Social protection is a set of policies and programmes that reduce poverty and provide a safety net for the poorest and most marginalised people and communities.

The Centre for Social Protection (CSP) supports a global network of partners working to mainstream social protection in development policy and encourage social protection systems and instruments that are comprehensive, long-term, sustainable and pro-poor.

Current themes of focus include linkages between social protection, food security and nutrition; shock-responsive social protection; ‘cash plus’ programming; social protection and graduation; and urban social protection.

Our work focuses on:

• Creating knowledge about social protection policies and evaluating the impacts of social protection programmes.
• Mobilising networks of researchers, policymakers and practitioners to exchange knowledge and advocate for change.
• Strengthening capacities to shape and implement social protection policies.

IDS also leads the Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research programme, which aims to inform policy and programming on how to help poor and vulnerable people cope better with crises and meet their basic needs through more effective social assistance in contexts of recurrent shocks, climate crises, humanitarian crises, protracted conflict and forced displacement.

Visit the BASIC programme