Social protection

How to use this guide

This guide can be read online using the links to its sections above. The full guide can also be downloaded as a PDF (30 pages; 370 KB).

The guide includes one-paragraph summaries of key texts. Clicking on the link in a document title will take the reader to a second, longer summary of the document.

About this guide

This GSDRC resource guide provides a reference for policymakers and practitioners involved in social protection. It introduces some of the best literature on the understandings and types of social protection, the design and implementation problems to be considered, the potential for mainstreaming other development concerns into social protection programming, and the major debates both the donor and academic arenas. New publications and emerging issues will be incorporated on a quarterly basis.

This topic guide was prepared by Zoë Scott, and was last updated by Freida M'Cormack. The GSDRC appreciates the contributions of Stephen Devereux, IDS; Stephen Kidd, IDS; Rachel Slater, ODI; Catherine Arnold, DFID; and Tim Conway, DFID. Comments, questions or documents for consideration should be sent to enquiries@gsdrc.org.

Latest additions

The following document summaries were added in November 2011:

• Hickey, S., 2011, 'The Politics of Social Protection: What do we get from a 'social contract' approach?', Working Paper 216, Chronic Poverty Research Centre, Manchester
• Jackson, C. et al., 2011, 'Lessons from Social Protection Programme Implementation in Kenya, Zambia and Mongolia', Research Report 69, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton
• Marcus, R. and Pereznieto, P., with E. Cullen and N. Jones, 2011, 'Children and Social Protection in the Middle East and North Africa: A Mapping Exercise', Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London
• Mitlin, D., Satterthwaite, D., and Bartlett, S., 2011, 'Capital, Capacities and Collaboration: the Multiple Roles of Community Savings in Addressing Urban Poverty', Human Settlements Working Paper, IIED, London
• Social Protection Floor Advisory Group, 2011, 'Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization', International Labour Organization, Geneva

New additions