Ageing and poverty in Africa and the role of social pensions

Pensions in Africa must be carefully targeted to be affordable

By: Kakwani N & Subbarao K
Produced by: UNDP International Poverty Centre (IPC) , 2005

This study aims to analyse the poverty situation among the elderly (relative to other groups) in 15 low income countries Africa, and the role of social pensions. Analysis takes place within the context that in many low income African countries, three factors are placing an undue burden on the elderly:

• first, the burden on the elderly has enormously increased with the increase in mortality of prime age adults due to HIV AIDS pandemic and regional conflicts
• second, the traditional safety net of the extended family has become ineffective and unreliable for the elderly
• third, in a few countries, the elderly are called upon to shoulder the responsibility of the family as they became the principal breadwinners and caregivers for young children