Social protection can help mitigate the significant social and economic impacts of HIV on households and individuals, provided that programmes are responsive to the particular needs of people living with and affected by HIV. Social protection can help address the multiple social determinants of the epidemic – income inequalities, gender inequalities, social exclusion – and thus contribute to a reduction in new infections. Social protection can help address demand side barriers to access HIV services with potential to improve prevention, treatment and care and support outcomes.