Social Protection Podcast

How can countries mobilise the resources needed to expand social protection coverage? Financing gaps are often presented as fixed constraints, but a new toolkit developed by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) highlights how policy choices can help expand fiscal space. The toolkit also includes a calculator to estimate the cost of universal coverage in each country and explore potential sources of financing. The calculator will soon be available online to a wider audience.

Featuring discussions of case studies from Honduras, Moldova, Morocco, Pakistan and Senegal, this episode explores how domestic reforms and international mechanisms can help close financing gaps for social protection, as well as the role of trade unions in advocating for more inclusive and sustainable systems.

The discussion examines how progressive taxation, the reallocation of military and fossil fuel spending, and labour market formalisation could help mobilise resources for social protection. It also explores international measures, including debt restructuring, Special Drawing Rights and greater tax cooperation. Our guests discuss the political and economic trade-offs involved in these reforms, the challenges posed by debt and tax avoidance, and how trade unions can help turn potential financing opportunities into concrete policy action.

Meet our guests:

Beatrice di Padua, Advisor for Economic and Social Policies, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Lara Merling, Policy & Research Fellow, University College London

Polina Fisticanu, Head of Social and Economic Protection Department, National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Anand Ramesh Kumar, Social Development Specialist (Social Protection) at ADB, who shared key highlights and takeaways from the Asia Pacific Social Protection Week 2026, including emerging trends and innovative approaches to social protection across the region. A dedicated page featuring event resources, including recordings and presentations, will soon be available on socialprotection.org.

💬 Your feedback and ideas for the podcast are always welcome. Share your suggestions on topics to cover, resources, or guest recommendations.

This episode – co-produced by the FAO, Brazil’s IPEA, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and socialprotection.org – is the first of the Social Protection for Fisheries series.

Globally, fisheries and aquaculture make essential contributions to nutrition and food security, income, livelihoods, and economies, particularly through the small-scale fisheries sector, which directly employs 60 million people, supports nearly 500 million livelihoods, and provides over half of all fish consumed worldwide. Yet, despite these contributions, small-scale fishers and fish workers often face unequal access to resources and opportunities, precarious working conditions, unstable incomes, market and value-chain pressures, limited access to social protection, and growing exposure to economic and environmental shocks. Together, these challenges can undermine livelihoods and contribute to unsustainable outcomes for both fishing communities and aquatic ecosystems, which raises an important question: How can efforts to protect our oceans also protect the communities that depend on them?

In this episode we explore the connections between social protection, livelihood security, and environmental sustainability in small-scale fisheries. Through practical examples, our guests discuss how social protection measures, including compensation mechanisms linked to fisheries management and conservation efforts, can help reduce vulnerabilities, support income stability, and enable sustainable fishing practices. The episode also highlights the role of markets and fishers’ organizations and explores how stronger registries and interoperability can help extend social protection to fishing communities.

Meet our guests:

• Daniela Kalikoski, Fishery Officer and Equitable Livelihoods Team Lead, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Fabio Veras, Researcher, Brazil's Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA)
• Wendy Norden, Director of Global Programs, Global Ocean Conservation, Monterey Bay Aquarium

💬 Your feedback and ideas for the podcast are always welcome. Share your suggestions on topics to cover, resources, or guest recommendations.

Beyond reducing poverty, can social protection build trust – within communities and between citizens and the state – and help hold societies together? In this episode, we discuss the relationship between social protection and social cohesion.

Drawing on research from Ethiopia, Malawi and beyond, our guests explore why cash transfers can help restore social ties and institutional trust in some settings, while creating perceptions of unfairness and tensions in others. The conversation looks at what makes the difference, from transparent targeting to community participation and communication, and asks how policymakers can support social cohesion without expecting social protection schemes to achieve what they cannot do alone.

Meet our guests:

•

Francesco Burchi, Senior Researcher and Project Leader, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

•

Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

For our Quick Wins segment, we talked to Social Protection Specialist and researcher Nourjelha Elhag. In her recently published article, she explores the potential of zakat to complement national social protection systems, drawing on research from Pakistan and Jordan.

💬 Your feedback and ideas for the podcast are always welcome. Share your suggestions on topics to cover, resources, or guest recommendations.

As part of http://socialprotection.org’s 11th anniversary, this episode explores the central question behind the campaign: what does society stand to lose when we do not invest in social protection?

Too often framed primarily as a public expense, social protection can play a critical role in reducing poverty and inequality, expanding access to opportunities, and helping people and economies withstand and recover from shocks. When adequate protection is not in place, the consequences can extend across the life course and across societies, reinforcing vulnerability, limiting inclusive development, and weakening social cohesion.

Drawing on evidence and examples from different contexts, this episode delves into the social and economic returns of investing in social protection, from early childhood, care and informal employment to economic inclusion and crisis preparedness. What are the wider costs of leaving people without adequate protection? How can stronger, universal systems contribute to resilience, productivity and more equitable opportunities? And what does it take to build and expand social protection systems when governments face competing priorities and limited resources?

Meet our guests:

• Laura Alfers, International Coordinator, WIEGO
• Dominic Richardson, Managing Director, Learning for Well-being Institute
• Jamele Rigolini, Senior Advisor for Social Policy, The World Bank

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Sherine Al-Shawarby, Professor of Economics at Cairo University and Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Economics and Business Administration at May University in Cairo, who discussed the ongoing debate around bread subsidy reform in Egypt

💬 Your feedback and ideas for the podcast are always welcome. Share your suggestions on topics to cover, resources, or guest recommendations.

In the context of global price shocks, governments often turn to subsidies to shield households and businesses from rising costs. While subsidies can provide immediate relief, they are also among the most contested policy instruments. Given how costly they are to sustain, subsidies often have regressive distributional impact making them notoriously difficult to reform.

In this concluding episode of our two-part discussion on subsidies, we explore why subsidy reform remains one of the most politically and economically challenging issues in social policy. If there is broad agreement that resources could often be used more effectively through targeted social protection, why do subsidies continue to persist? What political, institutional, and social factors make reform so difficult? And what lessons can be drawn from countries that have successfully transitioned towards more equitable and efficient systems?

We also examine the role of social protection in making the reforms feasible. As governments seek fiscal space to strengthen social protection systems and respond to economic, climate, and other shocks, compensatory cash transfers and adaptive social protection have increasingly been presented as viable alternatives to broad-based subsidies and strong enablers of a successful reform.

Meet our guests:

•

Dr. Neil McCulloch, Director, The Policy Practice

•

Tara Moayed, Governance and Social Development Consultant

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager at Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat who shed light on the implications of the “Super El Niño”, alongside other climate and global shocks, for food security and vulnerable populations in the region.

Related resources

Publication | Intersecting Global and Regional Shocks: Implications of the Middle East Crisis and El Niño for Food Security in the Caribbean

Publication | From Regressive Subsidies to Progressive Redistribution: The Role of Redistribution and Recognition in Energy Subsidy Reform

Over recent decades, global shocks such as the Global Food, Fuel and Financial Crisis of 2007–2009, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, have driven countries to rapidly scale up social protection measures, including subsidies, to cushion households from rising food and energy prices. Increasing attention has also been placed on shock-responsive measures to address climate disasters and other crises. The recent conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to energy infrastructure and oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted the vulnerability of global energy and food systems. While oil flows have resumed, markets are expected to stabilise over time, with continued impacts on energy prices, agricultural inputs and household budgets.

In this first episode of a two-part discussion on subsidies, we draw on recent analyses to explore why such policies continue to account for over half of global responses to price shocks despite their regressive nature and significant fiscal costs, and what it would take to strengthen social protection systems as more effective and sustainable alternatives. Why do governments continue to rely on subsidies despite these challenges? What prevents social protection systems from playing a larger role during crises? And what would it take to build systems that can respond more quickly and effectively when the next shock hits?

* This episode was recorded on 17 June 2026. While we recognize that there have been further developments in the Iran-US peace talks, the discussions in this episode remain relevant and continue to provide valuable context.

Meet our guests:

Giovanna Mazzeo Ortolani, Social Protection Specialist, FAO

Yannick Hemmerlé, Economist, OECD Economics Department

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Marina Carvalho, Project Manager at socialprotection.org, who introduced some of the key features and improvements of the new socialprotection.org platform, launched in June! We invite you to explore the new platform and join us in growing the world's leading knowledge-sharing community on social protection!

Resources:

Report | Tracking Global Social Policy Responses to High Energy Prices

Report | The role of social protection in addressing the impacts of the 2026 conflict in the Middle East

Policy Brief | Energy prices are spiking again

In this episode of the Social Inclusion Series*, we explore how social protection systems can support greater inclusion for persons with disabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. Most of them face multiple and interconnected barriers, ranging from inaccessible environments and social stigma to the high costs of healthcare, assistive technologies, and care. When these needs go unmet, they can lead to increased risk of poverty, reduced participation in education and employment, and diminished well-being for individuals and their families.

This episode examines how governments and communities are working to address these challenges. We unpack “cash-plus” approaches that combine income support with health coverage, assistive devices, and care services, and look at how countries, especially in Southeast Asia, are designing more inclusive and responsive forms of support..

Meet our guests:

• Abner Manlapaz, Senior Associate of Center for Inclusive Policy (CIP)
• Charles Knox-Vydmanov, Social Policy Specialist (Inclusive Social Protection – Disability), UNICEF

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Sam Drummond, the host of the podcast ‘Building Inclusion’, a limited podcast series that highlights the voices shaping the future of disability inclusion in Australia.

*The Social Inclusion Series, produced by socialprotection.org in partnership with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is a three-part series that explores how social protection systems can advance the economic and social inclusion of vulnerable populations across the Indo-Pacific, in line with GEDSI principles, addressing key themes such as gender equality, demographic shifts, and disability inclusion.

Resources:

Multimedia | Building Inclusion: Australia’s Disability Strategy

Publication | Global Disability Inclusion Report

Publication | Methodological Guidelines on Assessing Household Disability-Related Costs and Their Implication for Participation

Publication | Building an inclusive future: Social protection as a catalyst for disability empowerment in Viet Nam

Publication| Bridging the information gap towards inclusive governance

In this second episode of the Social Inclusion Series*, we explore how ageing populations are reshaping social protection needs and development across Asia and the Pacific. While demographic trends vary widely across the region, countries are increasingly facing issues on how to support income security, health, care, and dignity in later life.

The episode explores the links between ageing, pension systems, and the care economy, which has long relied on women’s unpaid labour, including how family-based care is coming under increasing pressure from migration, urbanisation, and changing social and economic conditions. Drawing on examples from the Asia-Pacific region, with a closer look at the experience of Fiji, our guests discuss how social protection can evolve to complement family and community support, reduce poverty, and strengthen resilience across the life course.

Meet our guests:

• Philip O’Keefe, Professor of Practice, Centre for Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales
• Jesse Doyle, Senior Social Protection Specialist (Economist), P4SP**
• Ms Rozia Bi, National Coordinator - Social Protection Reforms, Fiji Ministry of Women, Children & Social Protection

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Meghna Ranganathan, Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who shared insights on how the impacts of social protection interventions on intimate partner violence and household dynamics evolve over time, and reflected on more inclusive approaches to research and evidence.

*The Social Inclusion Series, produced by socialprotection.org in partnership with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is a three-part series that explores how social protection systems can advance the economic and social inclusion of vulnerable populations across the Indo-Pacific, in line with GEDSI principles, addressing key themes such as gender equality, demographic shifts, and disability inclusion.

**P4SP stands for Partnership for Social Protection and it is a program funded and supported by the Australian Government. More information here.

Resources:

Publication | World social protection report 2024-26: Regional companion report for Asia and the Pacific

Publication | Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific 2024 - Protecting our Future Today: Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific

Publication | Toward a Resilient Care Ecosystem in Asia and the Pacific - Promising Practices, Lessons Learned, and Pathways for Action on Decent Care Work

Publication | Caring Societies, Inclusive, and Green Economies in Asia and the Pacific: Unveiling Data To Advance Women’s Empowerment Beyond GDP

Blog | Why Asia-Pacific should care about care: Care infrastructure is the next frontier development solution across the region

Blog | Ageing in the Global South: The challenge of social protection

Publication | Future demand for care in Indonesia, the Philippines & Vietnam

Website | Cash Transfer and IPV Research Collaborative

Publication | Evolution of intimate partner violence impacts from cash transfers, food transfers, and behaviour change communication: Mixed-method experimental evidence from a nine-year post-programme follow-up in Bangladesh

Publication | Decolonising implementation science: a call for methodological pluralism

In this first episode of the Social Inclusion Series*, we shine a spotlight on adolescent girls. Adolescence is a turning point—but one that often goes overlooked in social protection. These years are filled with major transitions, especially for girls, who often face greater challenges in staying in school, taking on care responsibilities, navigating sexual debut, and making decisions about their futures. These challenges are often driven by underlying gender inequalities and poverty, which shape and often constrain these pathways.

In this episode, we explore how social protection can help shift that trajectory. Focusing on risks such as child marriage and early pregnancy, we unpack how well-designed programmes can support girls to stay in school, access essential services, and navigate this critical stage of life with greater security. It also discusses how crisis—from economic shocks to climate change—can deepen risks, making already fragile transitions even more uncertain for adolescent girls.

Our guests dive into the evidence on what works providing some examples in Asia and worldwide and discuss why investing in adolescent girls is key to building more inclusive, resilient and climate-adaptive societies.

Meet our guests:

• Kath Ford, Deputy Director, Young Lives Research Program, University of Oxford

• Dr. Nyasha Tirivayi, Social Policy Manager, UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence-Innocenti

For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Eunice Tumwebaze, who is the Manager for Gender, Youth, and Children at the Kampala Capital City Authority in Uganda, who provided and overview of the Uganda's first urban social protection program for girls called “Girls Empowering Girls”.

*The Social Inclusion Series, produced by socialprotection.org in partnership with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is a three-part series that explores how social protection systems can advance the economic and social inclusion of vulnerable populations across the Indo-Pacific, in line with GEDSI principles, addressing key themes such as gender equality, demographic shifts, and disability inclusion.

Resources:

Publication | Unlocking Potential: How Social Protection Can Improve Disadvantaged Children’s Foundational Cognitive Skills

Publication | Weathering the Storm: Climate Shocks Threaten Children’s Skills and Learning But Social Protection Can Mitigate Impact

Publication | A Call to Action to expand social protection and care systems and promote decent work to address child poverty

Publication | Non-contributory Social Protection and Adolescents in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Government Programming and Impacts

Publication | Impacts and Design of Social Assistance for Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment and Well-Being in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What Works for Adolescent Girls

Publication | Systematic review of cash plus or bundled interventions targeting adolescents in Africa to reduce HIV risk

News | DSWD's ProtecTEEN program to address adolescent pregnancy

News | DSWD XI, CPD XI forge partnership on Social Protection and PopDev

Technical Brief | The Investment Case for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in South-East Asia

Webinar | Global Evaluation of UNICEF work supporting expansion toward universal child benefits - cash plus programming strengthening adolescent and youth development, opportunities and empowerment In Good practices from Uganda and India

Website | Gender-Responsive Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP) project

Publication | Towards Gender-Responsive Social Protection: Evidence on policymaking, programme implementation and impacts for women and girls

Publication | A Cash Plus Model for Safe Transitions to a Healthy and Productive Adulthood: Round 4 Findings

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 transform_socialprotection@ilo.org.

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 transform_socialprotection@ilo.org.

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 transform_socialprotection@ilo.org.

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

This year, 2025, marks the 10th anniversary of the socialprotection.org platform—a milestone that offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on how far social protection has come over the past decade, and where it is headed next.

Since 2015, when social protection was anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (mainly under SDG 1 as a pillar of poverty reduction), the field has expanded and evolved in response to new global challenges. In this episode, we look back at key turning points: from the unprecedented expansion of programmes during COVID-19, to the growing recognition of social protection as a driver of women’s empowerment, and its emerging role in climate adaptation, mitigation, and crisis response.

But we don’t stop there. We also look ahead, asking what the next years may hold for social protection in the face of constrained financing, political pushback on climate and gender agendas, and shifting global priorities.

Meet our guests:

• Fabio Veras Soares, Researcher at the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG)
• Edward Archibald, Senior Technical Advisor at STAAR (Social Protection, Technical Assistance, Advice and Resources)
• Zehra Rizvi, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF

For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Mariana Balboni, Coordinator of the socialprotection.org platform. Having been part of the platform’s story almost from the very beginning, Mariana reflects on its major achievements of the past 10 years in building and growing this global knowledge-sharing community. She also looks ahead to the next decade sharing the platform’s priorities for supporting the global community of practice, elaborating on how socialprotection.org will continue to evolve to meet emerging challenges in the field, and her hopes for what the platform can achieve in the years to come.