Social protection Topic guide (2015)

This guide provides an overview of social protection concepts, approaches, issues, debates and the evidence

Abstract

There is a revised 2019 version of this guide

Social protection is commonly understood as “all public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks and enhance the social status and rights of the marginalised; with the overall objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups”. This guide provides an overview of social protection concepts, approaches, issues, debates and the evidence. It primarily focuses on longer-term developmental social protection, rather than humanitarian responses, and on low-income countries, drawing on other contexts where appropriate. The aim is to provide an overview of issues, a selection of key references and signposting to further resources, rather than an exhaustive guide.

Citation

Browne, E. Social protection: Topic guide. Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2015) 41 pp.

Social protection: Topic guide

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2015