Social Protection

Social Protection and Labor

Social protection and labor systems promote better employment, prevent income loss, and protect people facing shocks and transitions. These programs are not just about helping people get by, they help them get ahead.

Featured

PUBLICATION

State of Social Protection Report 2025: The 2-Billion-Person Challenge

Despite recent progress, three in four people in the poorest countries have no social protection coverage. Across low- and middle-income countries, 2 billion people remain inadequately covered.
Press Release

Economic Inclusion Programs Reach Only 10% of World��s Poorest

Collaboration between governments, NGOs, community-based organizations, and the private sector is critical to overcome capacity constraints.
Fact Sheet

ľ��ӰԺ helps countries to promote better employment, prevent income loss, and protect people against shocks and transitions.

At-a-glance

Access to social protection and labor programs is critical to provide vital support for millions of people facing poverty, crises and life��s uncertainties.? It helps protect people against shocks today and build resilience and human capital to make the most of tomorrow.?Well-designed social protection programs have a high return on investment. For every dollar transferred to poor families, there is an estimated multiplier effect of $2.50 in the local economy.

Overview

Data-ASPIRE

The Atlas of Social Protection Indicators of Resilience and Equity (ASPIRE) provides social protection performance indicators for over 125 countries

Projects & Programs

Rapid Social Response Program

The Rapid Social Response Program is a key instrument for implementing the World Bank��s 2023�C28 Social Protection and Jobs Compass to achieve universal protection and to increase equity, resilience, and opportunities for all vulnerable households. It has provided $141 million to fund 384 activities in 109 countries.

Focus Areas

Adaptive Social Protection

Safety nets & cash transfers to poor households are one of the most effective poverty reduction strategies.
Labor & Employment

Economic inclusion and labor market programs can enhance people��s employability, productivity, skills, and labor mobility.
Aging & Pensions

Pension systems provide economic stability and security for aging populations.
Migration & Labor Mobility

Managing migration��s drivers and impacts allows origin and destination countries to share the gains.
Skills Development

Ensuring that individuals have access to quality education, training opportunities, and that employers can find the skills they ...

Research

Blogs

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Experts

Iffath A. Sharif

Global Director, Social Protection and Labor

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News & Events

What's New

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Latest Events

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In Depth

PEI is a global network that seeks to help increase the income and assets of extremely poor and vulnerable people.
An advisory team and a toolkit to support Case Management interventions and their Information Systems (CMIS), as part of existing or new World Bank support.
Sahel Adaptive Social Protection Program Trust Fund

The program helps increase access to effective adaptive social protection systems in six Sahel countries.
Transforming lives through Social Protection Programs in Latin America & ...

ľ��ӰԺ has been progressively scaling up support to social safety net projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching 73 million beneficiaries with its lending from FY19-23.
Rapid Social Response Program

A multi-donor program that is helping the world's poorest countries in building social protection systems.
Human Capital Project

The Human Capital Project is a global effort to accelerate more and better investments in people for greater equity and economic growth.

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