SASPEN

The Southern African Social Protection Experts Network, SASPEN, is a not-for-profit loose alliance of stakeholders, scholars and consultants who engage with social protection in the SADC region. SASPEN was founded in Johannesburg on May 15, 2012 on initiative of the regional working line social compact of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung who have been extending capacity and organisational support in the beginning years of the network. SASPEN promotes social protection in SADC countries and beyond.

SASPEN provides platforms for exchange to foster sensitisation and dissemination. SASPEN is a network structure to link social protection experts and institutions with each other. SASPEN activities include workshops, international conferences, seminars, publications, joint research, and dissemination of information. SASPEN aims to be a platform for:
1. sharing of experience and information based on research and in-depth knowledge of social protection issues
2. constructive debate, discourse, discussion and reflection among experts and with stakeholders and role-players, and
3. rendering a range of services to support the promotion, development and implementation of social protection in SADC countries, with reference also to strengthening social protection floor initiatives – on a commissioned, requested or self-initiated basis.