Global aid stakeholders increasingly aim to shift from fragmented humanitarian assistance in protracted crises – characterised by conflict, climate change and displacement – to state-led social protection that is implemented in tandem with relief responses.
The social protection first agenda advocates for nationally led systems, supported by technical and infrastructural investment, including digital tools and social registries; effective coordination between social protection and humanitarian actors to reduce fragmentation; conflict sensitivity and prioritising gender and social inclusion.
While this agenda has gained traction among some global aid actors, implementation is uneven due to funding constraints, risk aversion, and the tendency for siloed responses across social protection and humanitarian aid.
Uncertain political commitment from governments of crisis-affected countries, alongside steep reductions in global aid, underscore the imperative to strengthen the political case for social protection in crises.
This paper contributes to the debate by exploring the evolving politics that shape international aid agendas and social assistance delivery in such contexts.
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