Regional Social Security Forum for the Americas highlights innovation, excellence and universal social protection

The Regional Social Security Forum for the Americas in Brazil brought together social security leaders, government representatives and experts from across the region to share knowledge, exchange good practices and advance solutions for stronger and more inclusive social security systems.

The International Social Security Association's (ISSA) first regional forum of the 2026-2028 triennium was hosted in São Paulo, 25-27 March 2026 by the Ministry of Social Security, with the support of Dataprev - Social Security Information and Technology Enterprise.

A platform for regional exchange and learning

Around 350 participants from 81 organizations in 40 countries gathered to address key challenges and opportunities shaping social security in the Americas. Participants discussed how to extend coverage, innovate, improve service delivery and strengthen institutional resilience in a rapidly changing social and economic context.

The flagship report Social security developments and trends - Americas 2026 provided a rich backdrop for the event. Drawing on the experiences and good practices of ISSA members, the report underscores the importance of innovation, adaptability and good governance in responding to demographic, economic and technological changes.

Good Practice and Innovation Awards

The Forum also celebrated the ISSA Good Practice Award for the Americas, which went to the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social - IMSS) for its successful extension of social security to platform workers. A Special Distinction for Innovation was awarded to Brazil's Ministry of Social Security and INSS for extending social security coverage to remote populations in the Amazon.

Beyond these winning good initiatives, the fact that 37 social security organizations from 19 countries participated with 187 good practices in the competition, demonstrates the commitment of ISSA members to delivering practical, impactful and scalable solutions.

In-depth discussions on transformation and innovation

The Forum programme featured plenary sessions on topics such as developments and trends in the region, transformation, innovation and leadership, strategies to protect all categories of workers, population and employment and the continued importance of in-person public services. Sessions were also dedicated to the winning good practices from Mexico and Brazil.

A particularly dynamic second day included multiple parallel sessions building on members' good practices. This enabled participants to explore priority topics in depth, such as coverage extension, digital transformation, service quality, occupational safety and health, actuarial analysis, communication strategies and institutional coordination.

High-level policy dialogue on universal social protection

The Forum concluded on 27 March with a High-Level Policy Symposium bringing together ministers, senior officials and international experts to discuss policy strategies to meet the evolving social security needs of populations in the Americas. The symposium emphasized the importance of advancing towards universal social protection, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, as a foundation for inclusive societies, social justice and socioeconomic resilience.

Speakers in the high-level session included government representatives from Brazil, Guatemala, Jamaica and Uruguay, and high-level representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Labour Organization, moderated by ISSA Secretary General Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano.

Strengthening cooperation across the region

The Regional Social Security Forum for the Americas reaffirmed the ISSA's role as the leading international organization for social security institutions to connect, innovate and build capacity, contributing to social security systems that are more inclusive, resilient and people-centred.

The Forum reinforced regional collaboration, including through a dedicated meeting of Portuguese-speaking ISSA members, strengthening ties and shared priorities among participating member institutions.

*Speakers in the high-level symposium were:

Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, ISSA Secretary General; Wolney Queiroz Maciel, Minister of Social Protection of Brazil; Miriam Catarina Roquel Chávez, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Guatemala; Pearnel Charles, Jr., Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica; Leonardo Di Domenico, National Director of Social Security of Uruguay; Pablo Ibarrarán, Division Chief for Social Protection and Labour Markets at the Inter-American Development Bank; and Vinicius Pinheiro, Director of the ILO Country Office for Brazil.