Publications
Summary of publication
This guidance note is intended for DFAT staff working on social protection in the context of COVID-19. It aims to support staff to make informed policy choices which adhere to DFAT’s strategies on social protection and integrating gender equality. It provides a snapshot of issues that should be considered across the program cycle of designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating a social protection COVID-19 response program.
This is a living document and open to discussion and input – we are all learning through this process of response and recovery in the context of COVID-19. The document will be updated regularly to reflect feedback, new thinking and evidence, including case studies from the Indo-Pacific region.
Social Protection and COVID-19
The COVID−19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of robust social protection (social security) systems in the face of crisis. Social protection systems help individuals and societies manage risk and volatility and protect them from poverty and destitution.
To date, 200 governments, including Australia, have rapidly established and expanded social protection instruments to protect families, businesses and the economy from the impacts of the pandemic. Globally, cash transfers and food distribution are the most common social protection measures implemented by governments in response to COVID 19. As we move into the recovery phase, cash for work programs are likely to become a common safety net to provide temporary wages for work, normally on labour intensive infrastructure projects.
The Australian Government’s Partnerships for Recovery: Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response identifies social protection as a key area for support to help our neighbours weather the crisis, return to prosperity and enhance resilience over the long term. It sets out objectives to improve gender equality and reduce violence against women and girls (VAWG) in all aspects of our support.