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Extending social protection to rural populations

Perspectives for a common FAO and ILO approach - Executive summary

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Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Geneva, Switzerland ;

Pages 8p.

Author ILO and FAO

Publisher ILO and FAO ;

Category Brochure

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Despite the importance of social protection, today more than 70 percent of the world’s population still has no or limited access to comprehensive social protection. Coverage in rural areas, where about 80 percent of the world’s poor live, is even lower. Achieving an effective extension of the coverage of social protection benefits and services to the rural population is a key challenge which must be addressed in order to achieve SDG 1.3. “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”. This will require bridging gaps and removing existing barriers that limit the access of rural populations to social protection. Extending social protection for all is core to the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The present paper lays out the specific profiles, risks and vulnerabilities of rural populations and explores options to extend social protection coverage to them.

Cite this content as:

​ILO and FAO. 2021. Extending social protection to rural populations: Perspectives for a common FAO and ILO approach. Executive summary. Geneva.

Language English

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    Despite sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, rural poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition remain pervasive. These challenges are most acute in rural areas, where livelihoods, incomes, and food security are closely tied to agrifood systems. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive and inclusive social protection systems embedded within integrated rural development and agrifood system transformation strategies. Such approaches are essential to promote the economic inclusion of poor and vulnerable rural populations, safeguard their food and nutrition security, and strengthen their resilience capacities to climate-related shocks.FAO and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) convened a Regional Policy Dialogue on strengthening social protection systems for rural populations. The Dialogue reviewed the current state of social protection in Africa’s rural areas, identified emerging issues and trends, examined gaps in coverage and financing, and provided strategic actions and recommendations to support African countries in advancing the SDGs and the Africa Agenda 2063. This brief summarizes the key recommendations from the Regional Policy Dialogue for strengthening social protection systems in Africa for inclusive rural transformation.
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