Social protection

Nobody is immune to life's uncertainties – whether unemployment, illness or natural disasters. Without a social safety net, people can rapidly find themselves caught in a downward spiral. For example, if a small business owner loses her business following a flood and is forced into debt or if families have to cover high costs for medical emergencies. Social protection provides a safeguard in such situations and secures basic needs – even in times of crisis. 

A key component in combating poverty and inequality

Health, pension and unemployment insurance are instrumental around the world in combating poverty and creating social cohesion. However, almost four billion people – around half of the global population – have no access to this support. People in rural regions, informal jobs, or who have been displaced are particularly affected. Women and girls are also often disadvantaged: they perform more unpaid care work, are more likely to work in precarious jobs and receive fewer social benefits.

Social protection is a worthwhile investment

More and more countries are turning to social protection as a means of tackling poverty and hunger, reducing inequality and creating greater stability in the long term. People with social protection are better able to invest in education, health or their own business – and thus in their own future.  

Support in times of crisis – and beyond

In times of crisis in particular, it becomes clear just how important social protection is. In the wake of a natural disaster, it provides support in rebuilding a home, buying seeds or generating a new income. Social protection plays a decisive role in migration and displacement, too: humanitarian aid alone is not enough – long-term solutions that will enable people to lead a self-determined life are needed.

Social protection is particularly effective when combined with disaster management and climate change adaptation measures. This makes it easier to absorb shocks and strengthen people's resilience in the long term.

What we are doing

The United Nations 2030 Agenda stresses that no one must be left behind. Five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explicitly refer to social protection. Basic social protection programmes are designed to guarantee a minimum level of subsistence – especially for the most disadvantaged people. To ensure that poverty is not passed on from one generation to another, these programmes address those areas where support is most urgently needed.  

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), we support partner countries in establishing and expanding social protection systems:  

• We provide support in setting up health systems with solidarity-based financing, as well as basic social protection and public employment programmes.
• We support partner countries’ institutions in developing efficient administrative processes and service structures.
• We train staff, from administrative experts to social work professionals.
• We work with digital tools to identify target groups and process payments efficiently and securely.
• We promote a harmonised and multidisciplinary social policy.
• We ensure that social protection systems provide rapid and effective assistance in the event of a crisis by forging closer links between social protection, disaster management and climate adaptation.