Resource library

This report outlines key initiatives by international actors advancing the climate change and social protection agenda, prepared for the FCDO under Social Protection Technical Assistance, Advice, and Resources Facility(STAAR). It highlights the focus areas of major donor and UN agencies leading efforts in this space, detailing their work, key initiatives, publications, and events. While not exhaustive, it aims to inform and support the development of social protection policies and programs that address the increasing challenges posed by climate change.

This guidance note guides practitioners on integrating climate considerations into social protection, emphasising its importance, proposing adaptation strategies, and providing key resources.Climate change will reshape the challenges social protection policies address, necessitating significant adjustments.Social protection can help mitigate climate-induced poverty, support resilience and adaptation, and contribute to environmental sustainability. To remain effective, programs must expand coverage, adapt to mass climate shocks, and include vulnerable groups like migrants and urban populations.

This report outlines the status of international public climate finance going to social protection, focusing on three categories of climate finance providers, bilateral, multilateral development banks, and the climate funds. It proposes options for more efficient and targeted use of climate finance for social protection. The report reviewed existing literature that looks at climate finance and social protection and assessed the climate finance strategies and portfolios of the major international public climate finance providers.

The blog written by written by Zac Lowndes-Bull, Engagement Manager Climate Finance, Pegasys, in collaboration with the STAAR Facility discusses the growing interest in integrating social protection measures into climate change responses. It highlights recent international developments, such as the formation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Shield Initiative, which increasingly consider social protection in their strategies.

This brief highlights how climate change disproportionately affects women and girls due to existing gender inequalities. Social protection systems can enhance their resilience and promote gender equality. Key recommendations include collecting gender-disaggregated data, conducting gender-specific climate risk analyses, and fostering women’s leadership in climate resilience planning. Collaboration with civil society and local actors is essential to integrating gender-responsive approaches into social protection policies and strengthening women’s capacity to cope with climate challenges.