Thought Leader: The overlooked potential of basic income in addressing socio economic crises
PRESS STATEMENT: Advocating for Universal Social Protection: SPI’s Address at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meeting
Download Press Statement Every year in Washington DC, the IMF and World Bank, the two leading International Financial Institutions (IFIs), host a landmark event to map out the policy priorities for the coming year. The event is called the IMF/WB Spring Meeting, or Spring Meetings. The Spring Meetings are a gathering of the Boards of […]
The Economics of Implementing a Universal Basic Income in South Africa [Webinar]
Download the Policy Brief Watch the Policy Brief Launch https://youtu.be/6kv4ZAjDkxw
A Right to a Decent Standard of Living for all, a Right to Dignity
The Social Policy Initiative is pleased to announce the screening of its documentary film “A Decent Path”, at this year’s Human Rights Day Festival at Constitutional Hill, on Thursday 21 March 2024. The film centres on beneficiaries of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant by telling the human story of the 8,5 million ordinary […]
Increase in Social Relief of Distress Grant
The Social Policy Initiative welcomes the announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, on Wednesday 13 March 2024 in Parliament, on the increase of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant. The SRD Grant will increase by R20 and go from R350 to R370 per month, effective 1 April 2024. This after the Minister during his […]
A seven-pillar plan to rid SA of debt, unemployment and austerity
Read the article In a 1933 radio interview, John Maynard Keynes, the father of macroeconomics, said: “You will never balance the budget through measures which reduce national income. The chancellor would simply be chasing his own tail — or cloven hoof! It is the burden of unemployment and the decline in the national income which […]
UNICEF South Africa’s Public Finance Events in 2023 REPORT.
Read Report The following report encapsulates the rich insights gleaned from a series of seminars and discussions hosted by UNICEF South Africa. These deliberations brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, experts, civil society representatives, and UN agencies, to delve into critical dimensions of South Africa’s fiscal policy, socio economic rights, and […]
UBIC joint statement | UBIC opposes the draft amendments to the SRD regulations which contradict government’s public commitments, and will harm the most vulnerable
The Minister of Social Development on Wednesday published draft amendments to the regulations governing the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The main function of the amendment is to give effect to the announced extension of the SRD grant until 2025. However, the government is also taking the opportunity to propose further punitive additions […]
Press Statement: UBI Could Revolutionize South Africa’s Economy!
Social Policy Initiative (SPI) is delighted to be launching its new Strategic Position Paper: The Economics of Implementing Basic Income in South Africa on 14 February 2024 at Fountains Hotel, Cape Town. The paper was authored by renowned financial journalist Duma Gqubule. It advances data to evidence that a decent Universal Basic Income benefit of […]
Global Innovations on Social Security and Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPS) in a Post-Covid World
