What gives us an edge?
FAO plays a unique role in integrating solutions that combine expertise in social protection for rural populations with natural resource management, climate action, inclusive rural development, food security and nutrition, and disaster management.
By leveraging its knowledge in climate analytics, innovative financing, early warning systems, and vulnerability and food security analyses, FAO informs the design of national social protection systems.FAO harnesses social protection to promote gender equality and the inclusion of vulnerable groups including Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, youth and migrants.
At the global, regional, and national levels, FAO mobilizes strong partnerships with ministries of social development, agriculture, climate and environment, alongside UN agencies, development partners, humanitarian actors, finance providers and civil society organizations.
Why social protection for rural people?
Globally, 80 percent of extremely poor people live in rural areas
80 percent of the poorest rural households in low-income countries have no access to social protection
The value of social protection transfers in rural areas in low-income countries amounts to only USD 30 cents per person/day, not enough to cover the cost of a healthy diet and far below the poverty line
Achievements
FAO´s work in the recent years has greatly supported government efforts to improve the lives, livelihoods and food security of rural populations by strengthening social protection systems.
The Philippines
Ready to deliver cash transfers ahead of forecasted floods!
Supporting the development of the road map for establishing an adaptive and shock-responsive social protection system, and piloting digital payments to deliver cash in anticipation of forecasted hazards and so prevent climate-related crises.
Paraguay
Strengthening economic inclusion and climate adaptation through social protection
Supporting the design and roll-out of the national protection strategy and designing and implementing the climate resilience project, PROEZA, funded by the Green Climate Fund, which makes climate action more inclusive.
Lebanon
Farmers' registry – expanding social protection coverage among farmers
Designing a national farmer registry that incorporates socioeconomic criteria to effectively identify small-scale farmers who are most urgently in need of social protection, agricultural interventions and disaster response.
Kyrgyzstan
Improving diets, nutrition and livelihoods for rural families
Following the implementation of a Cash+ project that helped 65 percent of the beneficiary households increase the frequency of children eating vegetables and fruit, the Government included this approach in the National Food Security and Nutrition Programme 2019–2023.
Zambia
Driving direct support to poor and vulnerable farmers
Supporting the development of the Food Security Pack Management Information System to manage the overall implementation of the Food Security Pack Programme, an agriculture-based social protection programme targeting vulnerable households.
Kenya
Boosting the key role that producer organizations play in supporting social protection programmes
Engaging farm organizations in social protection programmes and strengthening their capacities increases the likelihood that vulnerable forest producers are included in the national social protection registry system and benefit from the social protection programmes.
Colombia
Sea women net a better social deal
Enhancing access to social protection for female fish workers –improving their business skills, raising their incomes and facilitating their access to public health care – boosts the resilience of the local fishing communities.
Joining forces
FAO carries out its work thanks to engagement with other partners and the generous resource partners who finance and support the Organization in leading global efforts to expand access to social protection for rural populations.
FAO collaborates with a variety of partners to expand access to social protection for rural populations.
Among coordination mechanisms at global level, FAO is an active member of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for a Just Transition, the Social Protection Inter-agency Cooperation Board, the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection 2030 (USP 2030), the Cash Learning Partnership (CALP) Network, the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), and the Inter-agency Social Protection Assessments (ISPA).
