UNICEF (2019) Programme Guidance: Strengthening Shock Responsive Social Protection Systems

UNICEF, along with partners such as the World Bank, European Commission, International Labour Organisation, World Food Programme and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is increasing their focus on supporting governments to strengthen social protection systems so they are ready to respond. This programme guidance is grounded in UNICEF and partner agencies’ experience of developing and strengthening shock responsive social protection in risk prone countries. It builds on the rapidly growing understanding and experience in this emerging area of work while at the same time contributing more up dated knowledge to it.

It is closely aligned to the Guidance Package on Social Protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus (SPaN) and the Research on Shock Responsive Social Protection Systems. Within UNICEF, it aligns with the recently up dated Global Social Protection Framework and is an elaboration of Action Area 9 (i.e Strengthening National Shock Responsive Social Protection Systems) of this framework. In addition, it complements UNICEF’s existing Guidance on Risk Informed Programming.

This Programme Guidance primarily focuses on social transfers, especially cash transfers, as proven programmatic responses and an integral part of social protection systems in both development settings and humanitarian response. It is organized in 3 chapters as follows:

Chapter 1: Sets the scene, engages with key concepts and explains the rationale for UNICEF’s focus on Shock-responsive Social Protection (SRSP).

Chapter 2: Presents UNICEF’s framework and guiding principles for its work on Shock Responsive Social Protection.

Chapter 3: This final chapter focuses on the “How To”, crystalising the learning from a wide body of evidence on how social protection has been playing a greater role in addressing covariate shocks.