Social Protection
Updated: 13 November 2009
Reducing risks, increasing opportunities
Social protection consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption/loss of income.
There are five main areas in social protection:
- labor market policies
and programs designed to promote employment, the efficient operation
of labor markets and the protection of workers
- social insurance programs
to cushion the risks associated with unemployment, ill health,
disability, work-related injury and old age
- social assistance
and welfare service programs for the most vulnerable groups with
no other means of adequate support, including single mothers,
the homeless, or physically or mentally challenged people
- micro-and area-based schemes
to address vulnerability at the community level, including microinsurance,
agricultural insurance, social funds and programs to manage natural
disasters
- child protection to
ensure the healthy and productive development of children
When implemented properly, these policies and programs can make a major contribution to ADB's overarching goal of poverty reduction.
 |
Top of page
