Social protection

Donor approaches to social protection

Donors have become increasingly interested in funding social protection programmes, having moved away from narrow approaches to social protection that just focus on the provision of safety nets in the event of economic shocks. The World Bank and the ILO are the major donors in this area. Below are links to resources that explain more about the different approaches taken by key players in the field of social protection. As this guide indicates, social protection has become mainstreamed into everyday policy discourse and is therefore treated by all major donors.

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Donor approaches

Where is a good place to start?

Conway, T., de Haan, A. and Norton, A., 2000, ‘Social Protection: New Directions of Donor Agencies’, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London
Social protection is receiving renewed attention from development agencies. This report from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) was commissioned by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The aim was to promote dialogue between international agencies as a basis for coordination and consistency in global donor policy on social protection issues. The report presents edited versions of papers from ODI, the World Bank (WB), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as a summary of discussions at a related workshop. It argues that collaboration between agencies is essential for effective social protection.
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Barrientos, A., and Hulme, D., 2008, ‘The Future of Social Protection in the Developing World: Actors, Bottlenecks and Politics’, in ‘Social Protection for the Poor and Poorest: Reflections on a Quiet Revolution’, Brooks World Poverty Institute, Manchester, pp13-19
This section of a broader paper examines three important factors in the future of social protection: the role of external actors, the bottlenecks of sustainable finance and delivery capacity, and politics. It argues that the role of national governments in formulating and coordinating policies is important, and emphasises the need for political conditions that are conducive both to the initiation of social protection programmes and their sustainability. Donors should prioritise governments' capacity to fund social protection programmes and focus on creating a domestic political constituency to support social protection.
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Donor approaches

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The ADB includes a wide variety of projects under its definition of social protection. These are: labour market programmes, social assistance, social insurance, micro and area based schemes and child protection. For more information see: Website overview.

Handanyani, W., and Burkley, C., (eds), 2009, ‘Social Assistance and Conditional Cash Transfers: Proceedings of the Regional Workshop’, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila
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Department for International Development (DFID)

DFID has produced a number of short briefing papers outlining their position on and work relating to social protection. These papers are listed below and, in general, they focus on social assistance, particularly social transfers. A number of other papers published by DFID can be found throughout this topic guide.

Davies, M. et al., 2009, 'DFID Social Transfers Evaluation Summary Report', IDS Research Report 60, Centre for Social Protection, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton
What can be learned from DFID-supported social protection and social transfer programmes? This review of 24 programmes in 16 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe finds that outcomes and impacts vary greatly relative to the unique conditions applied in specific contexts. A set of generalised findings can be identified, but these are not prescriptive policy options, and should be examined further in specific contexts. The effectiveness of social transfers is largely dependent on their level and regularity.
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DFID, 2006, ‘Social Protection in Poor Countries’, Social Protection Briefing Note Series no.1, UK Department for International Development, UK
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DFID, 2005, ‘Can Low-Income Countries in Africa Afford Social Transfers’, Social Protection Briefing Note Series no. 2, UK Department for International Development, UK
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DFID, 2006, ‘Using Social Transfers to Improve Human Development’, Social Protection Briefing Note Series no. 3, UK Department for International Development, UK
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DFID, 2006, ‘Social Protection and Economic Growth in Poor Countries’, Social Protection Briefing Note Series no. 4, UK Department for International Development, UK
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International Labour Organisation (ILO)

The ILO's work on social protection covers both issues of social security and labour protection, taking its cue from the 1952 International Labour Standards Convention. They emphasise that social security is a basic human right. The ILO organise their agenda around the concept of ‘Decent Work’ which covers rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. For more information see: Website overview.

Bonilla Garcia, A. and Gruat, J., 2003, ‘Social Protection: A Life Cycle Continuum Investment for Social Justice, Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development’, International Labour Organisation, Geneva
Globalisation and trends like changing employment patterns are leading to greater risk, insecurity and vulnerability. To address these changes, the scope of social protection needs to be expanded. This paper by the International Labour Organisation (ILO’s) presents a broader concept of social protection within the framework of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda.
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ILO, 2008, ‘Setting Social Security Standards in a Global Society: An Analysis of Present State and Future Practice and of Future Options for Global Social Security Standard in the International Labour Organization’, Consultation Paper, ILO, Geneva
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ILO, ‘Social Health Protection: an ILO Strategy Towards Universal Access to Healthcare’, Draft for Consultation Issues in Social Protection, Discussion Paper, 19, ILO, Geneva.
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In the wake of the financial crisis the ILO, along with the WHO, have been at the forefront of discussions about the need to establish a ‘social protection floor’. The ILO has articulated its support for a ‘social floor’ consisting of the provision of both essential services and social transfers as a requirement in order to ‘safeguard the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals’.

Social Protection Floor Advisory Group, 2011, 'Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization', International Labour Organization, Geneva
This report outlines recommendations on how to extend social protection coverage through the social protection floor approach. A social protection floor involves an integrated set of nationally-driven and tailored policies designed to guarantee a) income security (through social transfers in cash or in kind); and b) universal access to essential, affordable social services. The successful phasing-in of a social protection floor will require political will, fiscal space and effective institutions. Where low-income countries require some initial assistance for social protection floor initiatives, donors need to improve aid coordination and provide multi-year, direct budgetary support and capacity building.
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ILO/WHO, 2009, ‘Social Protection Floor Initiative’, Joint Crisis Initiative of the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination on the Social Protection Floor, ILO/WHO, Geneva.
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ILO/WHO, 2009, ‘Social Protection Floor Initiative: Manual and Strategic Framework for Joint UN Country Operations’, ILO/WHO, Geneva.
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Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

The use of the multi-dimensional poverty framework by the OECD/DAC’s Poverty Network (POVNET) has been very influential. This framework highlights pro-poor growth as an area of crucial importance, and supports social protection as a way to achieve equitable and efficient economic growth.

Voipio, T., 2007, ‘Social Protection for Poverty Reduction: The OECD/DAC/POVNET View’, IDS Bulletin, vol. 38, no. 3, pp.45-50
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OECD, 2009, ‘Promoting Pro-Poor Growth: Social Protection’, OECD, Paris
Various chapters of this text appear in previous sections of the topic guide. Access full text: available online

Oxfam

Oxfam’s recent policy statement on social protection defines it both as a basic right and an ‘action’, emphasising its role in mitigating risk and vulnerability, promoting the rights of the marginalised, and supporting the chronic poor.

Oxfam International, 2009, ‘Policy Compendium Note on Social Protection’, Oxfam International, Oxford
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World Bank

The World Bank has developed an analytical tool called ‘Social Risk Management’ (SRM) in order to identify social risks and potential responses. There are three main areas of SRM: risk management strategies, risk management arrangements and actors in risk management. Whilst it links social protection to broader poverty reduction aims and shifts the focus from risk coping to risk reduction and assessing vulnerability the approach has been criticised for not recognising that the chronically poor are continuously subjected to stresses (continual risk) which leads to an erosion of assets. For more information see: Website overview.

Holzmann, R., and Jorgensen, S., 2000, ‘Social Risk Management: A New Conceptual Framework for Social Protection and Beyond’, Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 6, World Bank, Washington D.C.
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Holzmann, R., Sherburne-Benz, L., and Tuislic, E., 2003, ‘Social Risk Management: The World Bank’s Approach to Social Protection in a Globalising World’, Social Protection Department, World Bank, Washington
The World Bank’s rethinking of traditional Social Protection approaches has inspired a new conceptual framework named Social Risk Management (SRM). The focus of SRM is to replace unproductive coping strategies with advance planning and mechanisms to help households anticipate and insure against shocks. This requires redesigning traditional public interventions and substantial future work at the conceptual, empirical and policy level.
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Holzmann, R., (ed.) 2009, ‘Social Protection and Labor at the World Bank 2000-2008’, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
This report examines the World Bank's social protection and labour (SP&L) strategy, its implementation and achievements. It finds that the strategy has led to social protection being mainstreamed at the World Bank. Further, the social risk management (SRM) concept it incorporates highlights the importance of: (1) multiple strategies for dealing with risks (prevention, mitigation, and coping); and (2) multiple arrangements - traditional and informal systems, market-based systems, and public sector policies and programmes. Other lessons include the importance of a clear conceptual framework to guide policy work, implementation according to country contexts, and partnership and harmonisation among international agencies.
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