As part of its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (UN SDG Fund) Joint Programme - an integrated and universal social protection system linked to developmental welfare services in South Africa, with UN Women, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) commissioned a study on social insurance schemes for the informal sector in South Africa with a focus on women and youth. Social insurance in South Africa is largely available to working-age adults who are formally employed, leaving informal sector workers with low coverage rates. The study was conducted to inform the design of social insurance schemes for the informal sector.

The study recommended establishing contributory social insurance schemes for the informal sector workers in South Africa that offer benefits to be paid out as once-off support, which should be piloted or launched with a specific and smaller target group, region or industry association.