Climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and social protection: a briefing note

This briefing note argues that comprehensive social protection that aims to prevent impoverishment and protect, promote and transform livelihoods and social relations, provides significant opportunities for adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

By exploring the relationship between climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and social protection, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) researchers have developed the concept of „adaptive social protection‟. Adaptive social protection involves examining the role of social protection in strengthening adaptation, for example, in developing more climate-resilient livelihoods. This paper outlines linkages between the three fields and assesses good practice within current social protection mechanisms. Recommendations for policy-makers are made including issues to be examined further, challenges to be met and gaps in knowledge to be filled.