This webinar fostered a discussion on the role of universal social protection and its financing in reducing inequalities. In the context of the negotiations of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, discussions have reaffirmed the commitment to combating inequality within and among countries, highlighting the importance of policies that can reverse current trends of rising inequality.

Income inequality, which was notably absent from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but later incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), remains alarmingly high. Currently, the bottom 50 per cent of households hold only 25 per cent of total income, while the top 10 per cent hold 30 per cent, illustrating the persistent challenge of wealth distribution. The webinar also presented new ILO research confirming that countries investing in social protection tend to have lower income inequality, underscoring the pivotal role of social protection as a cornerstone of equitable and sustainable development.

Speakers:

• Sudhvir Singh, Unit Head – Equity and Health, WHO
• Katja Hujo, Head of Bonn office and Senior Research Coordinator, UNRISD
• Helmut Schwarzer, Head of the Public Finance, Actuarial Services and Statistics (PFACTS) unit, ILO
• Umberto Cattaneo, Public Finance Specialist, ILO

Moderator: Shahra Razavi, Director of the Universal Social Protection Department, ILO