Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) has been awarded a certificate of merit for good practices in the steps taken to extend social security protection to the informal sector. The award was availed during the International Social Security Association (ISSA)-Africa regional conference that took place in Arusha – Tanzania on 5th December 2011. ISSA is an association that unifies all social security schemes in the world.

In the context of the ISSA, a good practice is defined as any type of experience, an action, a measure, a process, a project, or a technology implemented within a social security organization that fosters the improvement of its administrative and operational capacities, and/or the efficient and effective delivery of services.

The ISSA Good Practice Award was given to RSSB for the implementation of strategies to extend coverage to the informal sector which included; establishment of partnerships with key institutions, designed attractive benefit packages for the informal sector, simplified administrative procedures to reduce compliance costs and strengthened the decentralization of services. These practices led to an increase in the coverage from 7 to 18 per cent in one year and contributions by 35 per cent.

Launched in 2008, the ISSA Good Practice Award program is organized on a regional basis over a three-year cycle, and the competition for Africa 2011 attracted 42 entries from 19 countries representing 21 organizations. The identification and sharing of good practices helps social security organizations and institutions to improve their operational and administrative efficiency.

Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) was established by the law No.45/2010 of 14/12/2010 that determines its mission, organization and functioning. This institution was formed after the merger of the two social security schemes in Rwanda that is pension and medical insurance formerly administered by the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR) and Rwanda Health Insurance Fund (RAMA).

The mandate of the institution is to administer social security in the country. The branches currently managed under the schemes include; pension, occupational risks and health insurance. The benefits offered under the different branches are; old age, invalidity, survivorship, work injuries and work related diseases and health insurance benefits.

RSSB is committed to providing the best social security services to both formal and informal sectors as it looks forward to attaining the country’s vision of "social security for all” by 2020.

RSSB MANAGEMENT