The Center on Global Economic Governance Faculty Associate Jose Antonio Ocampo has joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) as Special Advisor on Social Protection. The ILO is a United Nations agency that deals primarily with establishing international labor standards and social protection for all. According to the ILO’s news statement, Professor Ocampo advocates universal social protection as sound social and economic policy.
Access to adequate social protection, which involves the prevention of and protection from circumstances that adversely affect one’s wellbeing, is considered by the United Nations a basic right. The ILO states that only 20 percent of the world’s population has adequate social security coverage. Professor Ocampo will be contributing his expertise to the ILO’s mission to improve social protection coverage for all.
Professor Ocampo is also the Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs and Director of the Economic and Political Development Concentration at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Prior to joining Columbia University, he was United Nations Under-Secretary General of Economic and Social Affairs, which produces research and analytical work on development issues, and Minister of Finance of Colombia.
Professor Ocampo, originally from Colombia, earned a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University.
