Social Protection and Climate Resilience: Evidence from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda

Within the context of recurring humanitarian emergencies in sub-Saharan Africa social assistance programmes are increasingly mentioned as effective interventions to build people's resilience to climate-related shocks and stresses. Innovative 'shock-responsive' and 'adaptive' social protection frameworks highlight how synergies between climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and social protection can more holistically address the vulnerability of extremely poor people to a range of livelihood risks. Based on qualitative research conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda this paper critically analyses in how far social assistance programmes can play a role in reducing the vulnerability of the poor to climate change, and where other programmes need to step in to complement these efforts. The analysis is informed by an understanding that resilience to climate extremes and disasters cannot be built by one programme or sector alone, but requires a range of programmes that together increase the capacity of people and governments to reduce the diverse set of risks that underpin poverty and vulnerability and increase the risk of disasters. While the potential of synergies across sectors is promising, merging climate and humanitarian policies with social protection can run the risk of losing focus of social protection's core objectives.