Social protection is a key mechanism that governments and other actors use to support the most vulnerable people and those experiencing life-cycle shocks. In its many forms, social protection not only provides for basic needs but also has larger-scale impacts in reducing poverty, addressing societal inequalities, protecting livelihoods, and building resilience to climate and other shocks.
Social protection is provided through both formal pathways (such as government-led schemes) and informal pathways (such as traditional networks of reciprocal familial and community support or support from faith-based institutions). While informal pathways have not always been described as ‘social protection’, these networks are vital in societies across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
While the value of social protection is increasingly recognised in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, the body of evidence available on it appears to be limited compared to other regions. In response, the Partnerships for Social Protection (P4SP) program commissioned a review of the evidence on social protection in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
This review provides an overview of the available evidence on social protection in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. It establishes a foundation for P4SP’s overall research agenda, informs program activities, contributes to the regional research agenda, and supports social protection policy, programming, and advocacy in the region.
