Integrated Social Protection
Why Integrated policy for SDG acceleration
The investment strategy is based on driving transformation, understood as delivering solutions that accelerate the SDG progress through unlocking systemic policy shift. The focus is on identification and activation of “leverage points” - those policy and/or institutional changes that produce a catalytic “chain-reaction” across sectors and stakeholder groups. The joint programmes aim to spearhead systemic change that yield social impact across the whole spectrum of the SDGs with the spotlight on social groups left behind.
The impact of joint programmes contributes to progress on multiple SDGs, producing catalytic results at scale within reduced timeframes. Given the interdependence of the SDGs, joint programmes facilitate change by working across sectors and silos through an integrated, multidimensional approach that addresses vulnerabilities across the whole life cycle and among priority target groups.
SOCIAL PROTECTION TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
As the strategic instrument for galvanizing SDG acceleration, the Joint SDG Fund invested USD 70 million, and mobilized USD 32 million in co-funding, into a portfolio of 39 countries on integrated policy solutions for social protection to Leave No One Behind (LNOB). The Call for Concept notes was launched in March 2019 and it led to 114 country applications. 35 proposals of the highest quality were developed into full-fledged joint programmes and launched in 2020.
The portfolio will deliver transformative results at scale by January 2022. It will do this by enabling innovation, local leadership and ownership, and sustained efforts towards transformative results. The urgency of the Decade of Action is echoed in the velocity with which the portfolio will achieve its results - results that typically require 5 years or more. The joint programmes' theories of change are predicated on the assumption that actions taken at the individual, household and community levels will lead to movements out of poverty by creating a multiplier effect across different SDGs.
The systemic impact of the portfolio manifests in social services, childcare, employment, social cohesion, health care, education and pension systems. The investment prioritizes the most vulnerable and all joint programmes put gender equality and women’s empowerment at the forefront of policy innovation.
Vulnerable Groups
Number of countries with JPs focusing on each group
All joint programmes mainstream gender, as reflected in the Gender marker.
Countries
Regional Composition in the Portfolio
ADAPTING AND RESPONDING TO COVID-19
COVID-19 increased the salience of social protection for the most vulnerable. For this reason, the Fund to provided an opportunity for re-purposing 20% of programme budgets to adapt and respond to the pandemic. The priority was to support the most vulnerable, build back better, and contribute to SDG acceleration by:
- Designing and institutionalizing comprehensive social protection systems that mainstream human rights to address inequalities, vulnerabilities, and systemic poverty;
- Making social protection systems more adaptive and resilient in preparation for future shocks due to pandemics, natural disasters or climate change;
- Facilitating innovation that “break down the silos” and produce coherent, just and sustainable policy outcomes.
Expert Insights
E-Training Program on Social Protection to support the implementation of CODI in Barbados
Learn moreShock-Responsive Social Protection: Lessons from the Joint SDG Fund for an Integrated Approach to COVID-19
Learn moreUN WFP Indonesia: The Third Edition of COVID-19 Economic and Food Security Implications for Indonesia
Learn morePublications
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women’s and Men’s Lives and Livelihoods in Albania
Learn moreINDONESIA COVID-19: Economic and Food Security Implications (4th Edition)
Learn moreLeaving No One Behind: A UNSDG Operational Guide for UN Country Teams (Interim Draft)
Learn moreStories from the field
Partners
Partners
Lisa.kurbiel [at] un.org (Get in touch)
nenad.rava [at] un.org (Get in touch)
