The International Institute for Environment and Development has launched its working paper on Shock-responsive social protection in fragile and conflict-affected states.
State fragility and conflict pose significant challenges in our world today. Fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) — a heterogeneous group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and developing countries — are home to nearly 1 billion people, almost double the number from 20 years ago. Violent conflict has spiked dramatically since 2010 in several regions, and the fragility landscape is becoming more complex. FCAS struggle to manage and mitigate risks linked to social, economic, political, governance, security and environmental challenges, including climate change.
Shock-responsive social protection programmes in these states can play a critical role in protecting livelihoods, strengthening adaptive capacity and supporting sustainable development. But FCAS have limited fiscal space, resources and tools/technology to implement these schemes at scale and provide comprehensive cover to all vulnerable populations.
They need debt relief, climate finance support and financial assistance to increase spending on shock-responsive social protection. In addition, they need support to integrate climate information and early warning and anticipatory approaches into planning and decision making at the local level.
Download the working paper here.
How to cite:
Bharadwaj, R., Karthikeyan, N. (2023). Shock-responsive social protection in fragile and conflict-affected states.
IIED, London
https://www.iied.org/21526iied
About the authors
Ritu Bharadwaj is a principal researcher in IIED’s Climate Change Group.
N Karthikeyan is a development economist who focuses on natural resource management, safe drinking water, sanitation, climate change, elderly care and microfinance.