The low coverage of social protection in Africa (17.4 per cent, compared with a global average of 46.9 per cent) is associated with low spending on social protection (3.8 per cent of gross domestic product, compared with a global average of 12.9 per cent). According to analysis by the International Labour Organization (ILO) that factors in the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for low-income countries to close the financing gaps and achieve targets 1.3 and 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, they would need to invest an additional 15.9 per cent of their gross domestic product every year (8.3 per cent for sub-Saharan African countries).