Measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 include strong restrictions of movement which dramatically change daily lives and impact agricultural livelihoods. These measures are particularly difficult for the rural poorest and most vulnerable, who tend to hold jobs and occupations which cannot be performed remotely. Many of the world’s poor depend on public spaces and movement for their livelihoods, including seasonal agricultural work and travelling to markets to sell or buy produce and/or inputs, etc.

This brief explains how social protection measures could shield the rural poor from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while providing a series of social protection measures countries adopted around the world as a response to COVID-19.