National social protection policies in West Africa: A comparative analysis.

The West African States recognize the importance of social protection and its dual social and economic function; a perspective that coincides fully with the topic of this special issue on Dynamic Social Security. Between 2007 and 2013 theses States developed national social protection policies, strategies or action plans and are now engaged in their implementation. This article reviews these national social protection policies (or strategies) in ten countries in the sub-region ( Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d' Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Togo) and presents their contents, revealing a similarity of approach in the development of policies. Specifically, after having carried out a diagnostic study of social protection in their respective countries, the States followed seven distinct stages: defining a national vision, defining precisely what is meant by social protection, laying down the principles on which policies were to be based and finally setting out the general objectives, key areas and mechanisms for implementing and financing their national social protection policies. Following these stages, this comparative study seeks to outline the main trends and key elements of the national social protection policies and bring out best practices to provide a basic structure and general guidelines for developing a national social protection policy, implementing a social protection floor and promoting access to higher levels of protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]