Theme: Social Security Supporting Resilience and Sustainability

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), on behalf of the National Department of Social Development (DSD) invites abstracts on several thematic areas that will be considered for publication in Volume 3 of the Social Security Review. Priority will be given to high-quality submissions of interest to both a local and international readership that address cross-cutting themes outlined in this call for papers.

Background to the Social Security Review

The Social Security Review (SSR) is a DSD-commissioned flagship publication, independently edited by the HSRC, that advances rigorous, practice-oriented scholarship on South Africa’s social protection system. Two volumes have been published and can be accessed via the link below.

https://www.dsd.gov.za/index.php/documents/category/73-social-security-review

SSR Volume 1: Evolution of Social Security in South Africa – An Agenda for Action, provided a historical and policy foundation and constitutional obligations, highlighted design choices and trade-offs, and the key role ofadministration.

SSR Volume 2: Social Security in the Times of COVID-19, examined how the pandemic exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities while highlighting opportunities for innovation in social protection delivery. It explored government social protection responses to the pandemic, such as the R370 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, the challenges faced by atypical and informal workers, the use of digital technologies in benefit delivery, and the gaps in migrant and informal worker coverage. It emphasised lessons for building more resilient, inclusive, and adaptive social protection systems, while reflecting on South Africa’s commitments to “build back better” and to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Social Security Review Volume 3: Social Security Supporting Resilience and Sustainability builds on the rights-based foundations of Volume 1 and the COVID-19 crisis stress test of Volume 2. This volume seeks to explore the evolving landscape of social security in South Africa amid tightening fiscal space and existing and emerging socio-economic challenges.

It asks what it will take to secure resilience and sustainability amid tightening fiscal space, stubborn unemployment, inequality and poverty, and a subdued economic outlook.

Conceptual Rationale for SSR Vol 3

The call seeks submissions that specify credible, implementable pathways that:

• Protect adequacy and equity in a constrained fiscal environment].
• Strengthen governance, the data/identity, core systems and operational readiness to respond to shocks.
• Extend inclusion to structurally excluded groups (informal/non-standard workers, migrants).
• Translate the NDP 2030 and SDGs into practical minimum standards (implementable floors with clear milestones.
• Harness digital identity, payments and AI responsibly, ensuring inclusion, privacy, and resilience.

Editors: Ms Shirin Motala, Director: Research Impact, Equitable Education and Economies, HSRC and Dr Stewart Ngandu, Chief Research Specialist, Equitable Education and Economies, HSRC

Project Manager: Dr Jaqueline Harvey, Research Specialist, Equitable Education and Economies, HSRC

Priority Themes

The call invites chapters that speak to five interlocking themes:

Theme 1: Fiscal Austerity and Social Protection – Sustainable Financing and Adequacy

How to maintain, expand or redesign a rights-based system under tightening fiscal space without sacrificing adequacy or equity in provisioning.

In the South African context, this theme asks how a rights-based social protection system can be maintained, expanded, or redesigned under tightening fiscal space without sacrificing sufficient support or fairness. Contributions should go beyond generic “cost” debates to examine sustainable revenue options, compliance gains, re-prioritisation, dedicated funding with time limits and the economy-stabilising effect of transfers during downturns, and clear minimum standards linked to a social protection floor with transparent rules for adjusting benefits over time.

Authors are encouraged to quantify who benefits and economic impacts, model medium-term budget framework (MTDP) trade-offs, and test how financing choices interact with programme design (for example, the implications of indexing child and disability benefits, or moving from temporary Social Relief of Distress (SRD) to a legislated working-age benefit). The aim is a rigorous financing pathway that protects the most vulnerable.

Theme 2: Building Institutional Resilience – Governance, Integrated Data Systems and Shock Readiness

The resilience of social security institutions and systems depends on more than goodwill in crises; it requires a coordinated governance approach, adapting infrastructure, modern data and identity, core systems, and improved response capacity that keeps services running when shocks hit.

According to the International Social Security Association (ISSA), partnerships, leveraging cloud-based systems and repurposing existing technologies are measures that help to maintain service quality and digitised services. Based on previous experiences, this theme invites contributions that explore how South African social security institutions build resilience into their operations. Analyses of how to move from siloed arrangements (SASSA, UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund], COIDA [Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act], RAF [Road Accident Fund]) to systems that work together with a single-entry point, shared services (eligibility, payments, appeals), and clear accountability.

Submissions should probe data standards and identity systems that connect with Home Affairs and the health system; the case for mainly online but able to work offline operations; payment system reliability and service provider risks; and service-standard commitments for grievances and appeals.

Theme 3: Towards a Resilient and Inclusive Social Security System

This forward-looking theme asks how South Africa can widen coverage to groups consistently missed by current designs while sustaining system resilience. Contributions should examine inclusion pathways for workers in non-standard or informal employment and for migrants in ways that are constitutionally sound and practical to implement, articulate the role of businesses and the private sector in extending risk protection; and specify feasible linkages] between income support and opportunity in a high-unemployment economy, for example paid work experience in caring jobs, benefits that move between jobs and credible learning pathways.

Authors should show how policy frameworks and practical interventions mitigate future health, economic, and climate-related shocks, and demonstrate how inclusion choices interact with fiscal constraints and administrative capacity so recommendations are both humane and practical to implement.

Theme 4: Social Security in the Context of the NDP Vision 2030 and the SDGs From Vision to Practical Minimum Standards (Implementable Floors)

According to the National Development Plan (NDP), “by 2030 South Africa would have a comprehensive system for social protection that includes social security grants, mandatory retirement savings, risk benefits such as unemployment, death and disability benefits and voluntary retirement savings. The retirement savings and risk benefit gap should be closed through reforms including mandatory contributions, with consideration given to subsidising these contributions for low income or periodic workers” (NPC, 2012, p358). This theme turns that vision into practical minimum standards by specifying minimum levels of support for each risk, proposing rules for adjusting benefits over time that prevent gradual loss of value, and clarifying governance for integrating assistance and insurance.

Submissions should assess progress since 2012, identify the main barriers, and develop reform packages that close the retirement and risk-benefit gaps (including subsidised contributions for low-income and workers with irregular employment while remaining realistic within the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP). The emphasis is on measurable milestones, institutional roles across spheres, and monitoring frameworks that align programme performance with Chapter 11’s promise of a comprehensive, sustainable, and equitable social protection system by 2030.

Theme 5: Social Security, Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security – Data, Identity, Payments and Trust

Digital platforms, verification using artificial intelligence (AI), and digital payment systems can extend reach and cut administrative costs, but only if they are designed for inclusion, privacy, and resilience. This theme invites research on identity systems that connect (linking birth, death, and population records to social protection systems), multiple payment methods with backup options and transparent algorithms that reduce fraud without reinforcing unfairness or excluding the digitally marginalised.

Authors should examine data management that follows POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act), cybersecurity risk management, and the necessity of offline and low-tech pathways (USSD, assisted channels) so that rural and low-connectivity applicants are not left behind. Case studies from SRD digitalisation, grant payment outages, or provincial rollouts should be used to identify key design principles that build public trust while delivering timely, accurate, and dignified benefits.

Timelines

• Abstract submission closing date: 30 January 2026
• Notification of invitation to submit chapter due: 11 February, 2026
• Full manuscript (6,000–8,000 words) due: 10 April 2026
• Publication target: March 2027

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Complete your abstract submission on this link: Social Security Review Vol 3 Extended Abstract Submission Form – Fill in form 

Failure to submit your abstract via the above link or incomplete submissions will render your submission invalid.

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Editorial Committee Contact Details

Should you have any queries for the editorial team please contact us via email ssrvol3@hsrc.ac.za

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