Introduction

High labour informality, together with the challenges associated with demographic change, transformations in the world of work, technological change and the climate crisis, are deepening the reconfiguring risk structure in the region, with implications throughout the life course. In this context, pension systems are one of the most important tools available to governments for safeguarding the well-being of older population. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the social institutional framework and financial sustainability of these systems, while closing current coverage and adequacy gaps, with the aim of moving towards universal, comprehensive, resilient and sustainable pension systems.

Within the framework of the Sixth Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and the ECLAC/BMZ-GIZ project “Productive, ecological and socially just economic transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean”, this side event aims to contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the challenges faced by non-contributory pension systems in the region, as well as the strategies employed to address these challenges. The regional coverage of these systems has grown significantly in the 21st century, and they have proven to be an effective tool in advancing the eradication of poverty in old age. While there were initially 14 countries with this type of scheme at the beginning of the century, these systems are currently present in 28 countries in the region. In 2022, these systems covered 19.6 million people aged 65 and over, equivalent to 31% of that age group. ECLAC analyses show that it is possible to continue expanding the coverage of these systems in the region while increasing their sufficiency and financial sustainability. However, this expansion must be considered alongside the consolidation of contributory pension systems to ensure sustainable progress and a high degree of solidarity across pensions systems. 

ObjectiveThe event will provide a platform for sharing experiences and insights on non-contributory pension systems in the region. The aim is to identify common challenges and evidence-based solutions to strengthen these systems, as well as exploring opportunities for their integration with social protection systems and their role in the transition towards sustainable pension systems in the region's countries.

This event will also contribute to the preparatory discussions for the Second World Summit for Social Development. Furthermore, it will provide an opportunity to discuss the proposal to establish a working group on sustainable pension systems as part of the regular working groups of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
 

Practical information

Place: Secondary room, SERPRO building 
Date: September 3rd, 2025
Time: 18:00 p.m. to 19:30 p.m. (Brasilia local time)

Link: https://eclac.webex.com/weblink/register/rbec7be3dd6d91c8017184426095bc32b

Languages: Spanish and Portuguese (event with simultaneous interpretation)

Preliminary programme

Moderator: Claudia Robles, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division, ECLAC

18:00-18.10 Inaugural Session: Welcoming Remarks

• Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director, Social Development Division, ECLAC
• Kathrin Schäfers, Counsellor for Social Affairs, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Brazil

18:10-19:15 Round table "Non-contributory pension systems in the region: lessons learned, challenges and opportunities"

• André Quintão Silva, National Secretary for Social Assistance, Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Brazil
• Estefanía Enríquez, Acting Undersecretary for Non-Contributory Insurance, Contingencies and Operations, Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion, Ecuador
• María Inés Esquivel, Technical Secretary of the Social Cabinet, Panama
• Carlos Paris, Vice-Minister for Social Policies, Ministry of Social Development, Paraguay

19:15-19:25 Questions from the audience
 
19:25–19:30 Closing remarks, Claudia Robles, Social Development Division, ECLAC