Local practices and institutions and their relevance for systems of social security. An investigation based on a case study of Senegal, Mali and Gabon .

This project has been built around the premise that by and large the present day social security systems in Africa are failing. Since the ILO and World Bank projects to extend social protection cover have been in effect for the last couple of years in several African countries, what can be done in …. Not to repeat the errors of the past? To avoid purely theorizing on the question, we have decided to observe the reality in situ, through interviews of local key people and observation of real social needs and a study of the legislation in three countries. The failure of the social security system in firstly a failure of the state’s reflection on this subject. Should it be considered as the only contributor when we observe other forms of social protection help and solidarity in what are considered as informal structures? Why should the “rich ancestral heritage” of Black Africa not be taken into account so present in African literature? This project will study these structures and anticipate how they can be considered within national legislation. The study will reflect then on Social security coverage in the selected countries and
question the rote that Law and legislation can play.