This paper explores how and how far considerations of inclusion are found in the policy and programming space described as the ‘humanitarian-social protection nexus’. It starts with a hypothesis that while maximising linkages between social protection and humanitarian assistance are at the top of policy agendas, there is little assessment of opportunities for and obstacles to ‘linking’ when it comes to the inclusion of vulnerable people and groups.
The paper explores whether humanitarian and social protection actors are broadly in agreement when it comes to inclusive social assistance: whether they speak the same language and follow similar principles, and whether they have similar or differing priorities and approaches. Understanding these similarities and differences is critical to inclusive social assistance – without it policymakers and programmers will be unable to achieve linkages in ways that improve the situations of vulnerable groups.
