Division of Social Welfare and Drug Control

Head of Division: Dr Johan Strijdom

The Division works with Member States and development partners to create and strengthen social protection systems that aims at reducing social and economic risk and vulnerability. These social safety nets have multiple beneficial economic impacts, build human capital, break intergenerational poverty cycle and reduce growing inequalities. The Division leads in advocating the rights and welfare of vulnerable groups emphasising human-centred sustainable development and inclusion of vulnerable groups in development of policies and programmes. Due to the impact of drugs, crime and corruption on development efforts in African countries the department leads on continental efforts to address organised crime, drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, money laundering and corruption. The Division works with Regional Economic Communities, Member States and development partners for policy development, advocacy, resource mobilisation and coordination of implementation social welfare and drug control policies.