Working paper 3: Shock-responsive social protection systems research
This is the third in a series of working papers from the ongoing research. Together, the set of papers explore perspectives about the interface between social protection, humanitarian assistance and disaster risk management (DRM), to complement the formal insights from our case studies across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This working paper focuses on community-level practices and perceptions of social protection in the Sahel, exploring both informal mechanisms of risk management and response, as well as the social dynamics arising out of the intersection of formal and informal systems. The aim is to contribute to reflection as to how community-sensitive ‘shock-responsive’ social protection can build on, complement and reinforce local mechanisms in a manner that integrates shock responsiveness within a broader social protection continuum.
About the project
The Shock-Responsive Social Protection Systems study is a two-year research programme led by Oxford Policy Management (OPM), in consortium with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) and INASP. It runs from March 2015 to March 2017. The aim of the Shock-Responsive Social Protection Systems study is to strengthen the evidence base as to when and how social protection systems can better scale up in response to shocks in low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected states, thus minimising negative shock impacts and reducing the need for separate humanitarian responses. It draws on a series of six case studies: three in-depth country studies in Mali, Mozambique and Pakistan; two lighter reviews in Lesotho and the Philippines, and a light study of region-wide initiatives in the Sahel. The research is funded by UK aid as part of the UK Department for International Development's (DFID's) Humanitarian Innovation and Evidence Programme (HIEP). HIEP is a joint initiative between DFID's policy, operations and research departments to improve the quality, quantity and use of evidence in humanitarian programming.