This technical note proposes a framework for understanding the contribution of social protection to rural women’s empowerment, particularly how different social protection schemes contribute to this goal and what gaps need to be addressed by other rural services and livelihood interventions to achieve women’s economic empowerment in rural areas. The second part reviews five common social protection instruments from a gender perspective by taking into consideration two principles and eleven key elements required for the full realization of rural women’s economic empowerment. The third part reflects on an integrated social protection system that includes gender equality and women’s empowerment objectives in order to foster poverty reduction more effectively and sustainably. It also presents key features that can make these interventions more gender-sensitive. The fourth part reflects on the linkages between women’s economic empowerment and social protection.