Ep. 59 | Social Protection and Humanitarian Assistance in Forced Displacement Settings

 Between 2015 and 2025, the number of displaced people worldwide nearly doubled. Today, more than 123 million people are forcibly displaced globally, including around 42 million refugees. Many of the countries that host refugees internationally are low- or middle-income, often lacking adequate social protection systems for their own citizens, let alone for displaced populations. As conflicts become increasingly protracted, displacement now lasts for years, or even decades, turning forced displacement from a short-term emergency into a long-term development challenge. Given this background, the episode explores how perspectives on forced displacement have evolved, shifting from a primarily humanitarian concern to a broader development issue. It examines how social protection systems can be expanded to better include refugees, and discusses the opportunities and challenges of approaches that bridge humanitarian and development responses within social protection frameworks. This month’s episode marks five years of the Social Protection Podcast. Over this time, the podcast has brought together voices from a wide range of institutions, countries, and perspectives to explore the evolving debates, policies, and practices shaping social protection worldwide. Since its launch, the podcast has released 70 episodes, including five special series, and reached thousands of listeners in over 180 countries. This milestone reflects the commitment of our guests and partners, as well as the dedicated work of the socialprotection.org team and its collaborators. And, of course, to you, the listener: thank you for being part of this journey!    Meet our guests:   Mattia Polvanesi, Senior Social Protection Officer, UNHCR Pablo A. Acosta, Lead Economist for Social Protection and Global Lead for Migration, World Bank Group Sarah Hague, Senior Advisor and Global Coordinator, Economic and Social Policy Global Practice, UNICEF   For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Lauren Whitehead, Lead on Inclusive Social Protection and Gender, UNICEF, who shared key outcomes and takeaways from the Gender-Responsive Social Protection Symposium.     Resources: Website | 1951 Refugee Convention Publication | 2018 Global Compact on Refugees  Publication | Refugees and Social Assistance in Low- and middle-income Countries : A Review of Operational Experiences Publication | Responsibility Sharing and the Economic Participation of Refugees in Chad Publication | Leaving no one behind: Why social protection must include displaced people (not open access)  Publication | IMF World Economic Outlook  - A Critical Juncture amid Policy Shifts  Publication | The Global Cost of Refugee Inclusion in Host Countries’ Health Systems: A Joint World Bank-UNHCR Report Publication | G20 Call to Action Towards Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Development through Universal Social Protection Systems Publication | Tipsheets for applying the Common Principles for linking Humanitarian Assistance and Social Protection: Principle 9 Publication | Guiding Principles for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Social Protection

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, launched under Brazil’s G20 Presidency in 2024, seeks to accelerate progress towards ending extreme poverty and hunger while tackling inequality. Bringing together over 200 members including governments, international organisations, and other partners, the Alliance aims to mobilise political commitment, align public and private financing, and promote evidence-based policy solutions that are country-led and centred on those most affected.  In this episode, we unpack the Alliance’s mandate and early achievements, explore how it supports countries in identifying needs and scaling proven policy instruments, and discuss what lies ahead as the Global Alliance moves from coordination to large-scale implementation.  Meet our guests:  Renato Domith Godinho, Director, Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Support Mechanism  Kevin Watkins, Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics In our Quick Wins segment, we speak with Raphaël Duteau, Manager for AI and Data Ethics at Employment and Social Development Canada, about the opportunities Artificial Intelligence presents for social protection. He also shares insights on the AI Hub launched under the Digital Convergence Initiative.  References:  Resource | Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty  Resource | AI Hub  Webinar recording | The AI Hub for Social Protection - supporting responsible AI in social protection 

In this episode, we explore how TRANSFORM is being institutionalised as a core approach to continuous capacity building for social protection practitioners and leaders across Africa. The conversations focus on how the initiative has supported the development of rights-based, inclusive social protection systems and how its content and methodology are being embedded within training programmes to strengthen leadership and skills at national and decentralised levels. This episode also reflects on the future of TRANSFORM in the context of shifting global dynamics, including changes in the official development assistance landscape. The episode concludes the three-part TRANSFORM Podcast Series, which presents the initiative's achievements 10 years since its inception through conversations with guests from the continent. In case you missed the prior episodes of the series, you can access them here:  Ep. 1 | Social Protection Capacity Building in Africa: 10 Years of TRANSFORM Ep. 2 | Promoting a Culture of Social Protection in Africa Hosted by Abidemi Coker, a passionate TRANSFORM Master Trainer. Meet our guests for episode 3: Patience Matandiko, Technical Officer - Social Protection, ILO Malawi Emmanuel Danjuma, National Programme Coordinator - Social Protection, ILO Nigeria Thokozani Mtapaonga, Principal, Magomero Community Development College, & Deputy Director in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Malawi For our testimonial segment, we welcome Samuel Kapingidza, Social Protection Specialist at the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, and the TRANSFORM Advisory Group chairperson.   To learn more and explore how TRANSFORM can be tailored for your context and how you can get involved with the initiative, go to https://transformsp.org and contact [email protected].

In this episode, we explore how TRANSFORM has helped promote a ‘culture of social protection’ across Africa, shaping how civil servants approach their roles and how institutions adapt to address lifecycle challenges using TRANSFORM’s building-block methodology. The conversations highlight the initiative’s leadership effects and its influence at national and sub-national levels, while also examining how it has supported the integration of social protection into the priorities of the African regional bodies and governments. This is the second of the three-part TRANSFORM Podcast Series, which will present the initiative's achievements 10 years since its inception through conversations with guests from the continent. In case you missed the first episode of the TRANSFORM series, you can access it here: Ep. 1 | Social Protection Capacity Building in Africa: 10 Years of TRANSFORM Hosted by Abidemi Coker, a passionate TRANSFORM Master Trainer. Meet our guests for episode 2: Thebuho Kavubya, District Social Welfare Officer, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services of Zambia. Ivan Oscar Langa, Social Protection and Policy Specialist and a TRANSFORM Master Trainer from Mozambique. For our testimonial segment, we welcome Felix Mwenge, TRANSFORM Coordinator and the Technical Officer for TRANSFORM and Knowledge Management at the ILO Country Office for Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. To learn more and explore how TRANSFORM can be tailored to your own context and how you can get involved with the initiative, go to https://transformsp.org and contact [email protected].

In this special episode with Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, we explore where global efforts stand today to combat poverty and how international actors can strengthen their support, particularly through a human-rights lens. The discussion brings what an effective path forward might look like in today’s complex global context, and how poverty, as a deeply transversal issue, is interlinked with a myriad of other major themes requiring international and national attention. Our regular podcast episodes will take a short break in January 2026, but we will be back in February with exciting guests and new social protection topics. In the meantime, we leave you with our special TRANSFORM podcast series, which will feature two more episodes: one to be released later this month and the other in January. Stay tuned!   Meet our guests: Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights For our Quick Wins segment, we have Marco Knowles, Senior Social Protection Officer at FAO, talking about the latest publication on social protection for rural populations within green climate fund projects. We also discuss the latest development on COP30 in Belém and the advocacy efforts that have been made so far. Publication: Weathering the storm: poverty, climate change and social protection Publication| Breaking the cycle: ending the criminalization of homelessness: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter Publication | The Poverty of Growth Publication | Eradicating poverty beyond growth: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter Publication | Non-take-up of rights in the context of social protection: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter Publication | Social protection and inclusive climate action – A review of social protection for rural populations within Green Climate Fund projects    

 Do cash transfers drive inflation? Is social protection a cost to the economy, or an investment in its future? And who should these systems ultimately serve? In this second and final episode on social protection myths and misperceptions, we turn to the economic and systemic dimensions — how social protection interacts with markets, fiscal policy, and national development. Drawing on global evidence and practice, we examine whether cash transfers distort prices, how they influence local economies, and what the data tell us about affordability and return on investment. We also explore the broader role of social protection beyond poverty reduction: as a foundation for inclusive and resilient societies. While not all answers are clear-cut, the discussion highlights how context, programme design, and policy choices shape outcomes, and why understanding these nuances is critical for effective, sustainable systems. Meet our guests: Davide Rasella, ICREA Research Professor and Head of the Global Health Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, ISGlobal and ISC. Dennis Egger, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Oxford. Laura Carvalho, Associate Professor of Economics, University of São Paulo. For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Konstantinos Papadakis, Principal Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who shared insights on the outcomes of Second World Summit for Social Development.   Resources: Podcast | Ep.54 | Social Protection Myths and Misperceptions Part 1 Publication | Do cash transfers cause inflation? Publication | The multiplier effects of government expenditures on social protection Publication | Social protection systems, redistribution and growth in Latin America Publication | Impact of social protection on child malnutrition and mortality across 46 LMICs: a longitudinal study over two decades with insights from the COVID-19 pandemic Publication | Effects of conditional cash transfers on tuberculosis incidence and mortality according to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors in the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort Publication | Effect of a conditional cash transfer programme on AIDS incidence, hospitalisations, and mortality in Brazil: a longitudinal ecological study Publication | Evaluation and Forecasting Analysis of the Association of Conditional Cash Transfer With Child Mortality in Latin America, 2000-2030

This episode introduces listeners to the origins and essence of the TRANSFORM initiative—an innovative, leading capacity-building program designed to strengthen social protection systems in Africa. It explores what sets TRANSFORM apart from other training programs and how it was designed as a uniquely African initiative, tailored to the continent’s context and adaptable to the needs of its countries and communities.  The episode is the first of a three-part TRANSFORM Podcast Series, which will present the initiative's achievements 10 years since its inception through conversations with guests from the continent. The series explores the impact of TRANSFORM on the social protection in the region, showcasing achievements in building culture and its integration into institutions.  Hosted by Abidemi Coker, a passionate TRANSFORM Master Trainer.  Meet our guests for episode 1:  Emmy Tony Ameny, Assistant Commissioner of Programmes, Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda  Kate Blaine, Instructional Designer and Facilitator, Learn to Lead Vincent van Halsema, Global Social Protection Advisor, WFP, and former TRANSFORM Hub Coordinator  For our testimonial segment, we welcome Aly Cisse, Social Protection and Labour Migration Specialist and a TRANSFORM Master Trainer from Senegal.     To learn more and explore how TRANSFORM can be tailored to your own context and how you can get involved with the initiative, go to https://transformsp.org and contact [email protected].

Thirty years after the landmark World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, the world reconvenes in Doha for the second edition of the Summit — a defining moment to assess global progress in poverty eradication, employment, and social inclusion. As nations prepare to renew their commitments to the Copenhagen Declaration, the Summit offers a crucial opportunity to reflect on the evolving role of social protection in advancing the social development agenda.  In this episode, we look back at the forces that shaped the first Summit and explore how the Copenhagen Declaration helped elevate social protection in global discourse. We trace the evolution of social development and consider what progress has been made, what gaps remain, and how today’s challenges, from conflict and fiscal pressures to climate and geopolitical change, are redefining the global agenda. We also examine the potential impact of the upcoming Summit for universal social protection, sustainable financing, and multilateral cooperation in an era of mounting headwinds.  Meet our guests:  Ms. Iffath Sharif, Global Director for Social Protection and Labour, World Bank  Ms. Shahra Razavi, Director of the Social Protection Department, International Labour Organization (ILO)  For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Marta Pedrajas, Deputy Assistant Director for Multilateral Development Policies at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, to delve into a special side event at the WSSD 2025: the First Leaders’ Meeting of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty She also explores what this new global initiative to eradicate poverty and hunger could mean in practice.  References:  Publication | Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development  Publication | World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and just transition  Publication | Sevilla Commitment: Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development  Publication | Elements paper for the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development  Event |  First Leaders’ Meeting of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty  Event | Universal Social Protection for Equitable Growth and Equitable Societies 

In this bonus episode, we explore the critical role of social protection in Gaza. Our guest expert unpacks how humanitarian community has found creative ways to deliver and scale up cash assistance through particular digital systems amid extreme adversity. How can social protection systems adapt in the face of prolonged instability? How can data be better managed in crisis situations? Where do fundings for these programmes come from? Tune in for a vital conversation on the ongoing humanitarian support and the resilience of systems supporting people in Gaza.   Meet our guests: Carla Lacerda, Social Protection Cash and Voucher Thematic Working Group, STAAR Facility   Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on September 22, 2025. While we recognize that there have been further developments in Gaza since then, the discussions in this episode remain relevant and important to highlight.  

Is social protection just a handout? Does it discourage work? Or are the systems plagued by fraud? In this episode, we unpack some of the biggest myths surrounding social protection systems and explore the real data behind the rhetoric. Despite the strong evidence base available and data which overwhelmingly proves the strengths of social protection in combating poverty and vulnerability, social protection practitioners are often faced by questions or doubts about mechanisms which have been, at some level, settled by evidence, practice and experience. Whether you're a sceptic or a supporter, this conversation might challenge your assumptions and bring greater clarity to the debate. Meet our guests: Rema Hanna, Jeffrey Cheah Professor of Southeast-Asia Studies, Harvard Kennedy School Tia Palermo, President at Policy Research Solutions (PRESTO) On this episode we do not have a Quick Wins guest, as there will be a Bonus episode coming out mid-October. But our host, Jo, has highlighted a couple of resources (shared below) from Rema and Tia for you to enjoy in the meantime. References: Publication | Dispelling myths on gender and cash transfers: Evidence Summary Publication | Social Protection: Policymaker Beliefs and Empirical Evidence Additional references: Publication | Conditional, unconditional and everything in between: a systematic review of the effects of cash transfer programmes on schooling outcomes. Publication | The effects of cash transfers on adult labor market outcomes Publication | Debunking the stereotype of the lazy welfare recipient: Evidence from cash transfer programs Publication | Theoretical underpinnings and meta-analysis of the effects of cash transfers on intimate partner violence in low-and middle-income countries Publication | The impact of cash transfers: a review of the evidence from low-and middle-income countries Publication | A mixed-method review of cash transfers and intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income countries Publication | Myth-busting? Confronting six common perceptions about unconditional cash transfers as a poverty reduction strategy in Africa Publication | The Effectiveness of Cash and Cash Plus Interventions on Livelihoods Outcomes: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis Publication | Social safety nets, women’s economic achievements and agency: A systematic review and meta-analysis Publication | Do cash transfers alleviate common mental disorders in low-and middle-income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis