Social protection
Social protection refers to income transfers that protect the financial security of people to avoid experiencing extreme poverty. People with disabilities generally experience greater barriers to work opportunities, and are at higher risk of poverty, so their inclusion in social protection programs is fundamental for achieving their effective inclusion and active participation in society.
Resources in this section provide evidence, research, and guidance to achieve inclusive social protection systems and schemes.
UNICEF (2025) Disability Inclusive Child Protection Systems Strengthening
This resource is a practical guide for improving disability inclusion in child protection systems. The report provides an overview of the key concepts of disability inclusion, and the characteristics of disability-inclusive child protection systems. The document also presents a range of actions for disability inclusion that can be part of high-impact child protection system strengthening interventions.
CBM-Nossal (2024) Disability Equity and Rights Essay: Disability inclusive social protection
This ‘Disability equity and rights: Challenges, opportunities, and ways forward for inclusive development’ publication was prepared under the DFAT – CBM Inclusion Advisory Group Disability Inclusion Technical Partnership, an Australian aid initiative implemented by CBM Inclusion Advisory Group and the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne.
Kidd, S et al (2019) Leaving No-one Behind: Building Inclusive Social Protection Systems for Persons with Disabilities
This report examines how to make social protection systems and schemes more inclusive of persons with disabilities.
ESCAP (2022) Understanding Universal Social Protection
The primer clarifies understanding around universality in social protection, what it entails and how it can be operationalised.
ILO, IDA & UNPRPD (2022) Social Protection for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Social protection has a critical role to play in ensuring the wellbeing of people with disabilities as well as to support their inclusion in society.
ILO & IDA (2019) Joint statement: Towards inclusive social protection systems supporting the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities
The joint statement reflects shared commitment and aims to build greater consensus on the importance of inclusive social protection systems supporting the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities.
Secretariat, Conference of States Parties to the CRPD Economic empowerment through inclusive social protection and poverty reduction strategies
This background paper provides an introduction to the impact disability inclusive social protection measures can have, and a summary of United Nations work in this area.
Banks L M, Mearkle R, Mactaggart I, Walsham M, Kuper H & Blanchet K (2016) Disability and social protection programmes in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review
This paper systematically reviews the evidence on whether persons with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are adequately included in social protection programmes, and assesses the financial and non-financial impacts of participation.
Centre for Inclusive Policy (2023) The Disability Support Gap: Community support systems for persons with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries
This resource underscores the vital role of community support for people with disabilities, highlighting their diverse needs across life domains and the disparities in accessing such assistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
SPACE (2021) Inclusive Information Systems for Social Protection: Intentionally Integrating Gender and Disability
This resource considers disability as one of many additional identities women may hold, including older women, youth, refugee, migrant, Indigenous, LGBTI and other minority groups.
