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Many people now have access to social protection, but many more still do not. This is especially worrying in rural areas where poverty is concentrated. In the absence of social protection, limited financial and social services, along with widespread informal employment, prevent people in rural areas from capitalizing on economic opportunities, especially within agrifood systems.

If rural people do not have access to adequate and comprehensive social protection, they risk being left behind, hindering progress on reducing poverty and inequality.

What is social protection?

Social protection is a human right and a commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It constitutes policies and programmes implemented by governments to address poverty and vulnerability. This includes measures such as cash and in-kind transfers, public works, health insurance, and vocational training initiatives. Social protection is an effective tool not only for responding to address crises such as climate change and conflicts, but also to make development processes more inclusive.

Our impact

Thanks to FAO's work in the recent years, countries have improved the performance of social protection among rural populations.

Paraguay

Strengthening the climate responsiveness of the national social protection system

FAO’s support contributed to the design and implementation of the Poverty, Reforestation, Energy and Climate Change (PROEZA) project, co-funded by the Government of Paraguay and the Green Climate Fund.

Latest publications

Stories

Publication

Scoping review on the role of social protection in climate change adaptation and mitigation for economic inclusion among rural populations

15/04/2024

This paper reviews the available evidence on the role of social protection programmes in facilitating climate change adaptation and mitigation, with...

Social protection and inclusive climate action – A review of social protection for rural populations within Green Climate Fund projects

24/09/2025

This briefing paper presents the findings of an analysis of 23 GCF-funded projects.Building on these insights, it recommends scaling up social protection,...