Policy dialogue on the Millennium Development Goals must recognize that the goals are linked by the gender dynamics of power, poverty and vulnerability. This briefing paper draws on ODI’s research on social protection and gender in eight countries and three regions funded by DFID and AusAID and discusses how social protection interventions (including public works programs, asset and cash transfers, and targeted social services) can promote an interlinked gender-sensitive approach to the MDGs. It looks at three clusters of Goals, including service access, care and care-giving .