Social Protection Podcast

Ep. 53 | Social Protection over the Past Decade (and 10 years of socialprotection.org!)

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.

Ep. 52 | Integrating Social Protection into National Climate Policies

In face of the climate emergency, integrating social protection into countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) is essential for supporting vulnerable communities, advancing low-carbon transitions, and unlocking climate finance to expand adaptive social protection systems. With many countries set to update these critical climate instruments under the scope of the Paris Agreement, this is a critical moment to explore the topic. 

In this episode, we examine how social protection is being woven into national climate policies, with a spotlight on Cambodia’s pioneering approach—not only mentioning social protection but recognising it as a distinct sector in its new NDC 3.0. We delve deeper to discuss what it takes to bridge climate action and social protection, from building resilience and inclusive adaptation, to unlocking climate finance and coordinating across ministries. 

Meet our guest:  

• Dr. Matthew Walsham, Social Protection Specialist (Climate), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). 

• Mr. Sophornreaksmey Sreng, Deputy Secretary General, General Secretariat for the National Social Protection Council, Kingdom of Cambodia. 

For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Sayanti Sengupta, Technical Advisor for Social Protection & Climate at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, expanding on concrete steps countries can take to advance the critical agenda of integrating social protection into NDCs.  

References: 

Publication | Integration social protection in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 

Publication | Weathering the storm: poverty, climate change and social protection: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights 

Database |  Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Registry | UNFCCC 

Ep. 51 | Financing for Social Protection: Turning Commitments into Action

As the world prepares for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the need to rethink how we fund social protection has never been more urgent. Debt burdens, shrinking official development assistance (ODA), and growing global inequalities are squeezing fiscal space, especially for low- and middle-income countries, putting the goal of Universal Social Protection by 2030 increasingly out of reach. In this episode, we explore the bold reforms needed to unlock sustainable financing for social protection and a just transition.

In the first part, we discuss how the global financial architecture must evolve to meet the needs of low- and lower-middle income countries—and how innovative tools like special drawing rights (SDRs) could offer solutions. Then, we reflect on what financing for social protection should look like in today’s crisis-prone world, unpacking the political choices behind budget constraints, the role of domestic resource mobilization, and how international solidarity can help turn political commitments into meaningful and measurable outcomes.

Meet our guests:

• Hassatou Diop N’Sele, Vice President for Finance and CFO, African Development Bank Group
• Celine Julia Felix, Social Protection Specialist for Social Protection System Strengthening, UNICEF
• Lena Simet, Senior Researcher and Advocate, Human Rights Watch

For Quick Wins, Jamele Rigolini, Senior Advisor for Social Protection and Labor at the World Bank, joins us to discuss the State of Social Protection Report 2025 and why expanding not just coverage, but adequacy is key in today’s uncertain world.

Resources:

Event | 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)

Publication | African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

Publication | A Call for Action on Financing Social Protection

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

Publication | World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition  

Ep. 50 | Towards Universal, Inclusive Social Health Protection

Health is a human right, as well as a cornerstone of social protection systems. Yet globally, millions remain excluded from essential care, with financial hardship and systemic gaps still standing in the way of universal health coverage.

In this episode, numbered as the 50th of the Social Protection Podcast, we take a close look at Zambia’s National Health Insurance Scheme as a case study for how countries are working to expand social health protection, and what the social protection and health sectors can learn from each other to achieve the shared goal of universal coverage.

Meet our guests:

•  Herryman Moono, Director of Research, Planning & Strategy at the National Health Insurance Management Authority of Zambia
•  Lou Tessier, Health Protection Specialist at the International Labour Organization (ILO)

For our Quick Wins segment, we speak with Peter Ombasa, Senior Social Protection Specialist and Assistant Director of Children's Services of the Government of Kenya, about the USP2030 Joint Statement: Key messages on Social Protection for the World Social Summit 2025.

Resources:

Blog post | Social Protection for Health and Wellbeing

Publication | Towards Universal Health Coverage: Social Health Protection Principles

Publication | World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition

Publication | Financing gap for universal social protection: Global, regional and national estimates and strategies for creating fiscal space

Publication | Universal social security is feasible in low-income countries: a critical review of the ILO’s calculations on the cost of bridging the gap

Podcast | Think Change episode 70: how can development financing be reformed? The road to Seville

Social Protection in Conflict and Protracted Crisis Series Ep. 3 | Humanitarian, Development & Peace Nexus Approach

In conflict settings, ensuring that social protection is responsive, durable, and conflict-sensitive is critical, yet often underexplored. In this episode, we delve into the intersections between humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, and peacebuilding – the so-called "Triple Nexus" – and how social protection fits within it.

We examine how social protection actors, humanitarian agencies and peacebuilding specialists can work together to strengthen resilience, foster stability, and avoid exacerbating conflict. Our guests explore lessons from contexts like Ethiopia and Ukraine, the complexities of targeting and accountability, and the political dimensions of social protection in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

This marks the third and final episode of the "Social Protection in Conflict and Protracted Crisis" series, produced by socialprotection.org, organised by STAAR Facility and BASIC Research and in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, which has funded the series and provided invaluable support in shaping the episodes and connecting us with guests.

Meet our guests:

• Ric Goodman – Director, Social Protection and Resilience, DAI Global UK
• Rachel Goldwyn – Senior Conflict Sensitivity and Social Safeguards Advisor, WFP Sudan
• Lukáš Voborský – Team Leader, Technical Assistance Facility of the PeReHID Initiative

For our Quick Wins segment, we welcome Hassan-Alattar Satti, independent researcher and consultant, who shares key resources on maintaining social protection in conflict settings, focusing on lessons from Sudan.

Resources:

• Publication | Maintaining and strengthening social assistance systems in conflict settings: Sudan case study
• Publication | Effective Social Protection in Conflict: Findings from Sudan
• Blog | Towards a conflict-sensitive role for grassroot organisations in social protection in Sudan

Social Protection in Conflict and Protracted Crisis Series Ep. 2 | Localisation and local social protection systems in conflict and crisis

The need for greater ‘localisation’ of humanitarian and social assistance is clear in conflict and protracted crisis settings. The increasing difficulty for international organisations to operate is a key driver of localisation, as is the recognition of the essential role local actors (including government and civil society) play in improving the relevance, legitimacy, sustainability and effectiveness of aid. For social protection programs, the role of government as a local actor may be particularly complex or contested in these settings. This episode will explore the progress and challenges of this shift towards localisation, and how local organisations in Yemen and Southeast Asia have stepped up where international or government systems are weak.

Meet our guests:

• Abeer Al-Absi, Independent Consultant, STAAR Facility and BASIC Research
• Aung Naing, Research Consultant

 

For our Quick Wins segment, we welcome Courtenay Cabot Venton, where she talks about the study ‘Passing the Buck: The Economics of Localizing International Assistance’ with the Share Trust and the Warande Advisory Centre.

 

Resources:

• Humanitarian Activism, Social Protection, and Emergent Citizenship in Myanmar
• Sustaining Yemeni Capacities for Social Assistance

Social Protection in Conflict and Protracted Crisis Series Ep. 1 | Women and Other Marginalised Groups in Fragile Contexts

In times of conflict and protracted crises, social protection systems are often strained, yet they remain vital in supporting the most vulnerable populations. In this episode, we examine how gender-responsive social protection can mitigate the impact of crises on women, children, and other marginalised groups.

This episode examines the specific vulnerabilities of women and marginalised groups in these settings, the ways social protection programs are adapting to complex and evolving challenges, and key lessons for sustaining and expanding social protection in fragile contexts. We also explore the case of Lebanon, a country facing a multifaceted socio-economic crisis, compounded by political instability, refugee influx, and conflict.

This marks the first episode of our new three-part series on "Social Protection in Conflict and Protracted Crisis", produced by socialprotection.org in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, which has funded the series and provided invaluable support in shaping the episodes and connecting us with guests.

Meet our guests:

• Rachel Sabates-Wheeler – Professorial Research Fellow & Director of the Centre for Social Protection at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
• Rima Al-Mokdad – Technical Specialist on Social Protection, Data & Research at UN Women in Lebanon

For our Quick Wins segment, we welcome Buumba Chityaba, a Human Rights Governance Specialist, to discuss the key takeaways from the recent Roadmap for the Use of Social Protection to Tackle Child Marriage in Zambia report.

Ep. 46 | Harnessing AI for Social Protection: opportunities and risks

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and social protection systems are no exception. From improving targeting and service delivery to enabling predictive interventions, AI has the potential to make social protection and humanitarian programs smarter and more responsive. But with these opportunities come significant challenges: data privacy concerns, biases in algorithms, and the risk of reducing human oversight in critical decision-making processes.

In this episode, we explore how AI is being integrated into social protection systems globally, aiming to address pressing questions such as: How can AI enhance social protection without compromising fairness and accountability? What safeguards are needed to ensure that data remains secure and ethical principles are upheld?

Meet our guest:

• Thomas Byrnes, Humanitarian & Social Protection Consultant, Founder and Director of MarketImpact

For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Ralf Radermacher, Head of Programme, Social Protection, at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, sharing some key takeaways from the ‘AI for Social Protection’ workshop, which took place from 19–21 November 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Resources:

Publication | Harnessing the Transformative Potential of Generative AI for Humanitarian Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance Opportunities, Risks, Barriers, and Recommendations

Publication | How AI is Transforming Humanitarian Aid: Insights for Market-Based Professionals

Publication | Novissi Togo: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Deliver Shock-Responsive Social Protection

Ep. 45 | Looking Back on Social Protection in 2024

Join us for the 2024 Year in Review episode of the Social Protection Podcast!

In this year’s special (and final) episode, we delved into pivotal discussions and transformative insights that shaped the evolving landscape of social protection. From the growing recognition of social protection’s role in responding to climate change, to exploring gender-responsive approaches, and rethinking program designs in the face of crises, this episode revisits the most influential ideas and critical debates of the year. 

Reflecting on conversations with eminent thinkers, we reflect on the progress, challenges, and innovative practices that have defined the field of social protection in 2024.

Meet our guest:

• Dr Keetie Roelen, Senior Research Fellow in Poverty and Social Protection at The Open University.

For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Patricia Velloso, Knowledge Management Officer at UNICEF, and Marina Brunale, Growth and Engagement Officer at the Global Landscapes Forum, to reflect on the trajectory of the Social Protection Podcast, as well as the year that has passed.

Resources:

Publcation | World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition

Publcation | The Untapped Potential of Global Climate Funds for Investing in Social Protection

Publication | World Survey on the Role of Women in Development 2024

Publication | Gender-Responsive Age-Sensitive Social Protection: A conceptual framework

Publication | IDS Bulletin: Reimagining Social Protection

Publication | Thinking afresh: Closing the global funding gap to realise universal social protection

Publication | Anti/Postwork Feminist Politics and a Case for Basic Income

Event Recording | For a just transition in adaptation: The role of social protection in the Global Goal on Adaptation

Event Recording | Safeguarding Human Development: Mobilizing Climate Finance for Social Protection

Referenced Episodes:

Ep. 4 | Bolsa Familia | Flagship Special Episode

Ep. 30 | Impacts of Social Protection

Ep. 36 | Gender-Transformative Social Protection

Emerging Trends in the Indo-Pacific Series Ep. 03 | The Future of Climate Change and Social Protection Responses

Ep. 41 | The Evolution of Universal Basic Income: From Pilots to Policy

Bonus ep. | Partnerships for Social Protection: bridging divides, driving change

Ep. 43 | World Social Protection Report 2024-26

Ep. 44 | Social Registries and Beyond

Ep. 44 | Social Registries and Beyond

Data and information systems are fundamental building blocks of social protection programmes. They all need a process and a mechanism for collecting, storing and processing data. However, developing these registries presents enormous challenges. Especially in finding ways for these to become truly dynamic, so that social protection systems can respond effectively to peoples’ changing circumstances, such as in the face of shocks. This is perhaps one of the greatest hurdles facing the sector.

In this episode, we’ll cut through the terminology and periodic controversy to talk about how these information systems work, and how to make them work better.

 

Meet our guests:

• Rodrigo Assumpção, President of DataPrev (Brazil)
• Valentina Barca, Independent Social Protection Expert

For our Quick Wins segment, we are joined by Gabrielle Smith, Independent consultant and member of the STAAR Facility.

 

Episode resources:

Publication | Implementation Guide – Good Practices For Ensuring Data Protection And Privacy In Social Protection Systems

Publication | Passing the Buck: The Economics of Localizing International Aid