SPaN Operational Note 8: Vulnerable Groups

This note is one of a series of guidance notes for EU practitioners and their partners working at the intersection of social protection and humanitarian response. The aim of this note is to discuss the ways in which social protection interventions which bridge the humanitarian-development nexus can achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable groups and enhance their agency and resilience towards shocks and crises.

Terms such as ‘vulnerability’, ‘risk’ and ‘vulnerable groups’ can have substantially different meanings in different parts of the EU and among the humanitarian and development agencies of member countries (see for example EC 2013; EC 2016). This presents an immediate challenge to working on social protection across the humanitarian-development nexus. ‘Vulnerable groups’ are defined here as those who are exposed to risks and poverty on the basis of – or exacerbated by – social status, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, etc. ‘Risk’ is the possibility of harm or damage.

In this note, we draw on existing research and data including recent international studies and experiences to provide an overview of knowledge on current concepts, policies, instruments and promising practices, and offer guidance for operating in specific contexts, including pointing to more detailed resources. The scope of the note is not to set out new procedures or operational steps, but to offer practical and operational implications for EU operations based on the available evidence base. It focuses on key decisions a donor has to make around policy and strategy relevant to supporting vulnerable groups through social protection interventions in different types of emergency contexts and in contexts with varying degrees of state capacity and willingness to operate, and varying maturity of the social protection system.

Section 1 focuses on key decisions a donor has to make around policy and strategy relevant to supporting vulnerable groups through social protection interventions in different types of emergency contexts and in contexts with varying degrees of state capacity and willingness to operate, and varying maturity of the social protection system. Section 2 then discusses why it is important to focus on vulnerable groups’ needs, and how gender, age, disability, ethnicity and race create or exacerbate vulnerabilities and risks in crisis situations. Section 3 discusses recent international experiences in designing and implementing SPaN interventions taking account of vulnerable groups’ needs. Section 4 then concludes with lessons learned and implications for future policy.