Social protection, in particular social assistance, has been one of the most important short-term measures deployed by governments to buffer their populations against the immediate impacts of COVID-19. But with the spectre of “L-shaped” recessions looming, experts from the FCDO- and GDC-funded SPACE initiative – Edward Archibald and Laura Alfers – discuss the ongoing need for investment in social protection in the medium to long term. Both for continuing to meet people’s immediate needs and for ensuring preparedness against an increased intensity and frequency of compound shocks. The global numbers appear impressive (Gentilini et al., 2020): 200 countries/territories have responded to the pandemic by planning or...
Read more 
