SPACE Social Protection Approaches to COVID-19: Expert advice helpline

Countries across the globe are using or adapting social protection systems and programmes, including labour market policies and social insurance schemes, as well as humanitarian cash assistance, to respond to the range of immediate and medium-term impacts of COVID-19. Getting assistance to those who need it quickly is helping to safeguard the well-being of individuals and families – enabling them to meet unexpected health care costs and adopt necessary protective behaviours; compensating for loss of income; and mitigating the impact of inflation, particularly increased food prices. Further reliance on social protection approaches is also anticipated in the future, as countries recover from the pandemic and prepare for future shocks.