From extreme heat and drought to rising sea levels and erratic rainfall, climate-related shocks are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Yet in the 20 most climate-vulnerable countries, less than 9% of the population is covered by any form of social protection. At the same time, the annual financing gap for basic social protection in low- and middle-income countries is estimated at $0.56 trillion, before factoring in the escalating impacts of climate change.

Social protection systems need to respond, and there are various operational arenas in which that response needs to occur.

This primer lays out why social protection must evolve to become climate-responsive, and why philanthropy has a vital role to play in supporting that transformation. It also explores the expanding scope of climate-responsive social protection, including shock response, anticipatory action, adaptation and just transition strategies, and presents a practical framework for philanthropic engagement. The framework presented in this primer can be used to determine where initiatives with different modes, operating at different scales, and in different operational arenas, could help inform CRSP systems in similar geographies.

The report draws on real-world case studies including India, South Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia and beyond.