What is social protection?

Let’s start by exploring what social protection is and how it is defined across the Pacific. While the definition may vary from country to country, social protection generally refers to a range of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability.

We’ll look at the two main types of social protection—contributory and non-contributory—and why strong social protection systems are important. These systems are key to helping people to manage risks, improving wellbeing, and supporting inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.

Defining social protection

We will begin by looking at how the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and P4SP define social protection.

Click below to read the definition, purpose and types of schemes.

Programs that address risk, vulnerability, inequality, and poverty through a system of transfers to people in cash or in kind (e.g. food or vouchers).

Social protection offers economic security to all vulnerable citizens by protecting their incomes and providing consumption smoothing​.

Non-contributory​ & contributory ​

But there is no one agreed definition of social protection – it varies depending on the country or the organisation.

Social protection, or social security, is a human right and is defined as the set of policies and programmes designed to reduce and prevent poverty and vulnerability throughout the life cycle. Social protection includes benefits for children and families, maternity, unemployment, employment injury, sickness, old age, disability, survivors, as well as health protection. Social protection systems address all these policy areas by a mix of contributory schemes (social insurance) and non-contributory tax-financed benefits, including social assistance.

(A) set of policies and programmes aimed at preventing or protecting all people against poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion throughout their life-course, with a particular emphasis towards vulnerable groups.

Social protection is defined as the set of policies and programs aimed at preventing or protecting all people against poverty, vulnerability, social exclusion throughout their lifecycles, placing a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups.

Social protection can be provided in cash or in-kind; through non-contributory schemes, such as providing universal, categorical, or poverty- targeted benefits such as social assistance; contributory schemes (commonly social insurance), and by building human capital, productive assets, and access to jobs.

Social protection and labor systems, policies, and programs help individuals and societies manage risk and volatility and protect them from poverty and destitution - through instruments that improve resilience, equity, and opportunity.

Pacific countries' definitions of social protection

Pacific countries have different definitions of social protection too.

Click the pins on the map to learn three examples of definitions of social protection in Pacific countries.
A map showing the Pacific region, with location pins highlighting Nauru, Samoa and Tonga.
 

Core Pillars of social protection

Around the world, and in the Pacific, most people agree that social protection includes at least two core pillars - non-contributory and contributory.

Click on the boxes below to learn more.
Interactive image divided into two sections: Non-contributory (left) and Contributory (right). Each section has clickable boxes and images to reveal more information. Left side: Non-contributory Top heading (click to reveal): "Non-contributory." Middle box (click to reveal): "Benefits given by the government or other organisations to people. This helps ensure all citizens have access to a guaranteed minimum income." Bottom-left image (click to reveal): Illustration of an elderly woman with a cane. Label: "Old age pension." Bottom-right image (click to reveal): Illustration of a person using crutches. Label: "Disability benefit." Right side: Contributory Top heading (click to reveal): "Contributory." Middle box (click to reveal): "People who earn, and their employers, make contributions to contributory schemes, which provide benefits when they cannot work. This helps smooth a person’s income over their lifetime." Bottom-left image (click to reveal): Illustration of a person holding a folder. Label: "Superannuation fund." Bottom-right image (click to reveal): Illustration of a pregnant person. Label: "Parental insurance."

But wait, these definitions are all so confusing!

We agree! Many definitions are hard to understand, with a lot of technical words.
Let’s try to talk about it more simply...

 

Purpose of social protection

Social protection is money or other help that is given to a person often from the government.

The purpose of social protection is to make sure that:

Click the images to read more about the purpose of social protection.

Everyone can receive the minimum amount of money that is needed to live.

People that earn money from a job are able to use what they need to live, and also save money to use in the future.

 

Here are some examples of social protection:

Click the images to read for examples of social protection:

Money given to older people or people with a disability.

Money given to parents when they have a baby.

Money that workers save in their provident / superannuation fund for when they retire.

 

Strong social protection systems

A strong social protection system can help people to deal with things that happen at different stages of their life, and provides a safety net for those in need.

Watch the video below to learn more about social protection systems.
Illustrated video explaining how social protection benefits are provided across different life stages. The video is based on a diagram with three life stages: Childhood on the left, Working Age in the middle, and Old Age on the right. Each stage includes a heading text box with the age group and a text box below with example benefits, alongside illustrations of people in that stage. Childhood: example benefit is Child Benefit. Working Age: example benefits include Unemployment Benefits, Sickness and Work Injury Benefits, Parental Benefits, and Survivor's Benefits. Old Age: example benefit is Old Age Pension. Below the three life stages, a horizontal section shows that Disability can affect people at any life stage. Beneath that, an illustration of a net represents safety net programs that support everyone during shocks such as disaster.
 

In the Pacific, there is a strong tradition of supporting each other. For example through churches, remittances or customary practices, such as the wantok system in countries in Melanesia and Fa'asamoa in Samoa.

 

Mythbuster

There are lots of myths and perceptions related to social protection that you may have heard before. Here is one example.

If the government gives people money, it will ruin traditional support systems.

True or false?

Select your answer by clicking true or false.
Image showing two icons side by side. On the left is a checkmark labeled "True." On the right is a cross mark labeled "False."