ISSA and Royal Holloway: A partnership for resilient and agile social security institutions

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has forged a dynamic partnership with Royal Holloway, University of London, to strengthen organizational resilience and agility in social security institutions worldwide.

The cooperation started at the World Social Security Forum in 2022, where Ran Bhamra from Royal Holloway contributed expert insights on institutional readiness and integrated responses to crises. There was sown a seed which has grown into a rich and fruitful partnership that has brought important new knowledge and perspectives to the ISSA membership.

"Our partnership with Royal Holloway has become an important source of insight for social security institutions worldwide, helping our members explore practical ways to strengthen resilience and adapt to rapidly changing conditions", says Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General of the ISSA.

Sharing knowledge in ISSA events

Since its inception, the partnership has grown through contributions to both ISSA webinars and flagship events. Since June 2024, Mr Bhamra has contributed to webinars on strategic resilience, crisis decision-making, creativity and agility for organizational resilience, and dynamic governance.

In 2025, he shared expertise on creativity and agility as drivers of continuity and resilience at the International Conference on Management and Innovation in Social Security in Cairo. At the World Social Security Forum in Malaysia, he dove deeper into the topic of organizational resilience and dynamism, and facilitated a workshop on strategic thinking in crises.

These engagements have helped ISSA members explore practical approaches to embed flexibility and innovation into their operations - critical for institutions facing complex challenges such as demographic shifts, technological disruptions or economic shocks.

Survey and research paper

The ISSA and Royal Holloway are also developing new knowledge together. In 2024, they launched the first-ever global survey on institutional resilience among social security institutions. Findings have provided significant insights presented by Mr Bhamra in his interventions in ISSA events. Moreover, he co-authored a research article with Ernesto Brodersohn of the ISSA, which was published in a special issue of the International Social Security Review (ISSR).

With social security institutions being under growing pressure to keep up with rapid social, economic and technological change, the ISSR article offers insights for developing more resilient, creative, and dynamic institutional structures. By empowering decentralized decision-making, involving stakeholders more closely, adopting flexible leadership and organizational models, and making smarter use of technology, they can respond more quickly and effectively to people's changing needs.

A vision for the future

The partnership with Royal Holloway exemplifies the value of international knowledge collaboration. "As we move into our 2026-2028 programme, this collaboration continues to provide valuable knowledge that supports institutions in becoming more agile, innovative and better equipped to serve their populations", says Mr Caetano.

This can equip social security institutions with the capabilities to remain adaptive, resilient, and innovative - qualities that are essential for safeguarding social protection in an era of rapid change.

Quotes from ISSA members

"The joint work of the ISSA and Royal Holloway University on institutional resilience provides a modern and practical framework that enables social security institutions to anticipate risks, respond with agility, and ensure service continuity under complex and evolving conditions."

Margarita Féliz Féliz, Head, Department of Integral Risk Management, Social Security Treasury, Dominican Republic

"This collaborative work provides social security institutions with an essential framework to strengthen their resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment. This approach is transformative: it turns the management of uncertainty into a genuine capacity for sustainable transformation."

Anissa Bédoui Jerbi, Deputy Director, Internal Audit Department, National Social Security Fund, Tunisia

"While planning and readiness form the backbone of any resilient institution, true strength lies in cultivating creativity and agility. By fostering innovative thinking and rapid adaptability, organizations enhance their ability to ensure service continuity and confidently navigate an ever-changing landscape."

Karen De Sutter, General Administrator, National Office for Annual Holidays, Belgium

"The joint article in the International Social Security Review provides social security institutions worldwide with a clear and practical framework for strengthening resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment. It reinforces the role of social security as a strategic enabler of long-term societal and individual resilience."

Elshad Khanalibayli, Head of the International Relations Department, State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan