SAVING LIVES World Food Programme CHANGING LIVES Strategy for Support to Social Protection: Summary version July 2021 Introduction The World Food Programme’s (WFP’s) Strategy WFP’s new and timely strategy builds on that for Support to Social Protection consolidates history and coincides with the development of a our approach to social protection for the new series of strategic plans for WFP as a whole years ahead. Social protection has benefits for at corporate and country level. It articulates food security and nutrition, and social protection our approach to social protection and offers a programmes do not need to be specifically focused coordinating framework that outlines how we on food security to see these outcomes. Support will contribute deliberately and systematically to for social protection development, implementation, collective efforts to achieve long-term national social and coverage will in most cases contribute to protection goals, as a complement to our work in food security, and any way WFP is able to assist in responding to food security-related emergencies. It strengthening national social protection systems, in is informed by a body of operational and analytical contexts of food insecurity, is appropriate to WFP’s evidence from our country offices, regional bureaux, mandate. In social protection we have a key tool as global headquarters and independent analysts that we work together on saving lives and changing lives. highlights the contribution of social protection in enabling WFP to deliver on its mandate, and enabling The topic is by no means new to WFP: we have governments to meet their global commitments, been contributing both directly and indirectly to leaving no-one behind. the field now known as social protection since the 1960s. It is a mainstream part of our work. In The present document is the summary version. 2020, for example, we partnered with others to It highlights the key messages of the strategy, strengthen national social protection systems in 78 presenting the main framework, concepts and countries, making our support in this field integral diagrams. The full strategy, which has been published to our activities in most countries where we operate. at the same time, provides more detailed analysis of The 2012 ‘Update of WFP’s Safety Nets Policy’ laid the the data on Zero Hunger and the other challenges ground for much of the increased attention to social that WFP aims to address through its support to social protection evident in WFP’s practices today, though it protection; it also goes into greater depth regarding was not the first corporate statement in this field: it WFP’s interpretation of the scope of social protection superseded earlier policies in 2004 and 1998. and the entry points where we contribute most effectively, and provides many rich examples of our work in the sector. To read the full strategy, scan the QR code on the back of this document. 1. The context Social protection is essential if we are to reach and by interventions that help individuals or Zero Hunger. Hundreds of millions of people households to manage risks. It is an accelerator for contend daily with food insecurity and malnutrition, many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). poverty and inequality. These challenges are Countries define social protection according to often linked in complex ways. What’s more, as the their context. An interagency definition describes COVID-19 pandemic reveals, all people—whether social protection as the, ‘policies and programmes currently in a vulnerable situation or not—risk aimed at preventing, and protecting people welfare declines owing to shocks and stressors. against, poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion Social protection is a cornerstone of policies that throughout their life [...with] a particular emphasis address these issues by redistributing resources on vulnerable groups’ (SPIAC-B, 2019, p.1). 2 World Food Programme Strategy for Support to Social Protection - Summary version These typically cover a range of cash transfers, food Commitment to social protection by and other material support; they may also include governments and their partners has long been some fee waivers, active labour market schemes, increasing. Many challenges remain, some already targeted subsidies and/or social care services. the subject of global cooperation and others meriting attention. These include expanding social Social protection can enhance food security and protection across the three dimensions of the nutrition through several entry points. (Figure 1) Universal Social Protection 2030 agenda—coverage, Food security has four elements: food availability, comprehensiveness and adequacy; improving access, utilisation and stability over time. Improving quality; and embedding programmes in a cohesive food access (by enhancing economic capacities) and system. Taking better account of food security and stability (smoothing consumption during disruption) nutrition considerations, and of extra needs in crises, is intrinsic to social protection. Food availability and are other important concerns. utilisation are less intrinsic and so require special attention. With respect to nutrition, social protection tends to be more effective when nutrition goals are pursued deliberately. Figure 1: How social protection can enhance food security and nutrition Food security Availability Access Utilisation Stability consists of: An adequate supply People can obtain it People’s consumption These outcomes remain of food exists (physically and financially) of the food yields the best stable over time, despite possible results shocks and stresses KEY KEY ROLE ROLE Social • Incentivise local • Increase people’s • Act as a channel for • Build resilience protection production for in-kind incomes messaging to promote of households and can help food assistance • Increase access through good health and communities to shocks nutrition, dietary because • Incentivise investments physical distribution of • Smooth household in agricultural inputs food (e.g. school meals) diversity, food storage consumption in the it has the (including through and preparation, food event of a shock potential to: • Encourage safety and quality subsidies) the development of or seasonal stress • Enable farmers to markets in places that • Facilitate access (through social engage in higher risk, have cash transfer to health and education assistance or social high-return activities programmes services to improve insurance). health status, (e.g. through social • Promote social insurance) a foundation of good inclusion that improves nutrition • Support better equitable access agricultural production to food, resources • Improve financial through public works and markets access to safer and higher quality means or asset creation • Build human capital programmes of food storage so as to enhance future and preparation • Incentivise the purchasing power • Increase consumption availability of nutritious • Increase access foods in all the above. of nutritious to nutritious foods and diverse foods. in all of the above. Source: WFP. The context 3 2. WFP’s engagement in social protection CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS RATIONALE FOR WFP’S ENGAGEMENT For WFP, poverty, vulnerability and social Our social protection work is aligned with WFP’s exclusion—the three conditions cited in the twin roles in ‘Changing Lives’ and ‘Saving Lives’. interagency definition as the remit of social Supporting social protection is fundamental to protection policy—are part of three broader our contribution to Zero Hunger, and is a route by domains of concern, relating to needs, risks and which we enact our commitment to working ‘at the inequalities respectively. All three resonate with nexus’ of humanitarian and development assistance our mandate: and peace. National social protection systems, with their Needs annual expenditure of trillions of dollars, operate at a scale that is orders of magnitude Certain needs must be met for people to have a greater than any international humanitarian decent life—not just food but a range of essential response. By continuing to invest catalytic amounts needs, all of which can affect food security and in strengthening those national systems WFP aims nutrition—and social protection can help them to improve outcomes among the several hundred attain it. million hungry and malnourished—and those at risk—whom we do not reach directly and who may also need support if Zero Hunger is to be achieved. Risks The COVID-19 crisis, together with the growing Social protection’s risk management function is of number and duration of protracted crises worldwide, primary importance to WFP. The benefits may be have made the task more pressing than ever. twofold. First, households and individuals may attain immediate relief and build resilience so as to better manage future risks with fewer negative impacts. WHAT’S NEW IN THE STRATEGY Second, for governments and their partners, The strategy provides a strategic direction and a investments in system-building may increase coordinating framework for ongoing activities. efficiency in the long run and reduce the scale of Building on the ‘Update of WFP’s Safety Nets Policy’ need for protracted international humanitarian (2012), and following an evaluation in 2018–19, it assistance. contains new features including: consideration of major agreements since 2012, such as the SDGs, Social Protection Floor Initiative, USP2030 and Grand Inequalities Bargain; a more detailed articulation as to how The role of social protection