ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — Liberia’s social security sector is set to feature in a major continental dialogue as Moiffie Kanneh, Deputy Director General of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), participates as an invited panelist at the inaugural African Social Security Summit on Infrastructure, scheduled for October 29–30, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
By Augustus D.R [email protected]
The invitation, issued by the Africa Social Security Association (ASSA), places Kanneh among professionals expected to contribute to discussions on the future of social protection, digital innovation, pension investment and sustainable infrastructure financing in Africa.
The summit is being convened under the theme “Harmonization of Social Security Systems for Infrastructure and Economic Transformation in Africa.”
It will bring together senior government officials, social security administrators, regulators, pension fund managers, development partners, and financial institutions to explore strategies for strengthening social security systems and supporting Africa’s long-term economic transformation.
Moiffie Kanneh to Speak on Digital Innovation and Social Protection
A key highlight of Kanneh’s participation will be his role as a panelist on the topic: “Digital Innovation and the Future of Social Protection: Balancing Administrative Efficiency with Digital Inclusion for Service Delivery in Social Security Systems.” The discussion will focus on how technology can improve the administration and delivery of social security services while ensuring that workers and beneficiaries are not left behind because of limited digital access.
Digital innovation has become increasingly important to modern social security institutions. Properly designed systems can improve contributor registration, contribution tracking, benefit processing, record management and communication with members.
They can also help institutions reduce administrative delays, strengthen accountability and improve the overall experience of beneficiaries.
However, effective digital transformation requires more than adopting new technology. It demands systems that are accessible, reliable, secure and responsive to the needs of people across different economic and social backgrounds.
This is particularly relevant for African countries, including Liberia, where many workers operate in the informal economy and may face barriers to formal social security participation.
Kanneh’s panel will provide an opportunity to discuss practical approaches to expanding coverage, improving service delivery and balancing administrative efficiency with the need for inclusive social protection.
Unlocking Africa’s US$800 Billion Pension Assets
One of the most significant issues on the summit’s agenda is the potential role of African pension funds in financing sustainable infrastructure development.
According to ASSA’s invitation, social security funds across Africa collectively represent more than US$800 billion in pension assets. These resources constitute a significant pool of long-term capital that, if responsibly managed and appropriately invested, could contribute to addressing infrastructure financing gaps across the continent.
The summit will examine how harmonized regulatory and investment frameworks can help position pension institutions to support viable infrastructure projects while protecting the interests of contributors and beneficiaries.
Potential areas of investment include transportation, energy, housing, water systems and other essential infrastructure that can stimulate economic activity, create employment opportunities and improve living standards.
The objective is to explore investment approaches that deliver sustainable returns to pension funds while supporting broader development priorities.
Such investments must be guided by sound financial analysis, transparent governance, appropriate risk management and a clear commitment to protecting pension obligations.
Proposed African Infrastructure Fund
The summit is also expected to feature the announcement of a proposed infrastructure fund to be established with the participation of African pension funds.
ASSA’s invitation states that the initiative received support through a declaration adopted at the African Union’s Ministerial Specialized Technical Committee meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 30, 2026. The proposed fund is intended to explore ways of mobilizing long-term pension capital for transformative infrastructure projects across Africa.
If effectively structured and governed, the initiative could help connect institutional investors with carefully selected development projects, creating opportunities for sustainable returns while contributing to economic growth.
Its implementation will require strong institutional coordination, transparent investment decisions, credible project assessments and safeguards to ensure that pension funds are not exposed to unacceptable risks.
The proposed initiative reflects the growing importance of domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing mechanisms in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
Addressing Africa’s Social Security Challenges
Beyond infrastructure financing, the summit will address several challenges affecting social security systems across the continent.
These include limited social security coverage, high levels of informal employment, administrative inefficiencies, weak digital interoperability, difficulties in ensuring timely contribution remittances and challenges associated with benefit portability for migrant workers.
Expanding social security coverage remains a major priority for African countries. Millions of workers lack consistent access to formal social protection arrangements, leaving them vulnerable to economic hardship and uncertainty in retirement.
Addressing these challenges requires flexible contribution mechanisms, improved public awareness, accessible registration systems, stronger compliance measures and modern administrative processes.
Digital technology can support these efforts by improving the accuracy of records, facilitating contributions, strengthening communication and making services more accessible.
The summit will also explore opportunities to improve coordination between national social security systems, particularly for migrant workers who move between countries during their working lives.
Through high-level dialogue and professional collaboration, participants will seek practical approaches to building more inclusive, efficient and sustainable social security institutions.
A High-Level Gathering of African and International Institutions
The summit is expected to attract ministers, permanent secretaries, ambassadors, diplomats, social security regulators, pension administrators, trustees, board members, chief executives of social security institutions, representatives of the African Union Commission, regional economic communities, development partners and financial institutions.
Organizations identified by ASSA as partners include the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Trade and Development Bank (TDB), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), National Bank of Ethiopia, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Public Servants Social Security Administration of Ethiopia (PSSSA), and CRDB Bank of Tanzania.
Their involvement underscores the importance of collaboration among governments, financial institutions, social security administrators, and development partners in shaping the future of social protection and infrastructure investment.
For participants, the gathering offers an opportunity to exchange experiences, build professional relationships and identify areas for cooperation in addressing shared challenges.
Significance for Liberia and NASSCORP
Kanneh’s participation provides an opportunity for Liberia to contribute to a continental discussion about the future of social security administration and the responsible mobilization of pension resources.
The issues on the summit’s agenda are relevant to the continued development of Liberia’s social security sector, particularly efforts to improve service delivery, strengthen administrative systems, expand coverage and ensure that eligible contributors and beneficiaries receive the services and benefits to which they are entitled.
Engagement with other African institutions can also provide opportunities to learn from different approaches to digital transformation, contribution compliance, investment governance and social protection.
As social security institutions adapt to changing economic conditions and technological developments, knowledge-sharing and regional cooperation will remain important to building systems that are more responsive to the needs of workers and retirees.
Kanneh’s role as an invited panelist will contribute to these discussions and provide a platform for Liberia’s institutional perspective to be heard among professionals working to strengthen social security systems across Africa.
Supporting Africa’s Agenda 2063
The summit’s objectives are aligned with the broader aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
Achieving this vision requires strong institutions, sustainable financing, inclusive economic growth and social protection systems capable of responding to the needs of present and future generations.
By examining how pension funds can support infrastructure development while maintaining their core obligations, the summit seeks to bridge the relationship between social security and economic transformation.
Likewise, discussions on digital inclusion and administrative efficiency will help highlight the importance of ensuring that the benefits of technological progress extend to all segments of society.
The success of these efforts will depend on responsible leadership, sound policies, institutional accountability and sustained cooperation among African countries.
Looking Ahead
As the inaugural African Social Security Summit on Infrastructure convenes in Addis Ababa on October 29–30, 2026, the gathering represents an important opportunity to advance conversations about the future of social security, pension investment, and sustainable development.
For Moiffie Kanneh and NASSCORP, participation in the summit offers a platform to engage with continental stakeholders on strategies for modernizing social protection and exploring responsible approaches to infrastructure financing.
The discussions will seek to strengthen cooperation, encourage practical solutions and identify opportunities to make social security systems more inclusive, efficient and financially sustainable.
Ultimately, Africa’s social security institutions face a dual responsibility: safeguarding the future of contributors and beneficiaries while exploring responsible ways to support the continent’s long-term development.
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