Climate-responsive social protection: A primer for philanthropy

This primer provides an overview of critical global trends in climate-responsive social protection (CRSP) and highlights opportunities for philanthropy to work across geographies and sectors to accelerate progress and fill gaps in provision. CRSP refers to the role of social protection in supporting climate resilience; adaptation; mitigation; responses to loss and damage resulting from both extreme weather events and slow-onset changes (such as sea-level rise, glacial retreat and land degradation); and low emissions transitions. It incorporates interventions which may be described as anticipatory social protection, adaptive social protection and shock-responsive social protection.

From resilience building and shock response, to addressing long-term chronic stressors and facilitating a green transition, strategic philanthropic support could significantly enhance the development of appropriate sectoral responses and improve sector performance – locally, nationally and even globally. This primer describes the current trends in CRSP within the public sector, and the contributions that have been and could be made by private sector entities. It establishes a framework for understanding the various roles of non-state actors, and outlines opportunities for philanthropic support.