Promoting and building social protection in South Asia
Project properties
- Partners: Japan
- Status: In progress
- This project is part of the Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All
Description
Social protection is a fundamental human right, yet the effective coverage of social protection of population covered by at least one benefit in South Asia remains critically low at 35.4%, with informal employment at 86.6%, far exceeding the global average of 57.8%. This exacerbates the vulnerability of informal workers, particularly gig, platform, and care workers, who lack access to adequate social security benefits. Existing systems rely heavily on fragmented non-contributory schemes, with insufficient fiscal space and limited gender-responsive measures. Additionally, India and Sri Lanka, the key countries in this project, face distinct but overlapping challenges, including the limited coverage of social insurance schemes and the absence of targeted social protection mechanisms for specific occupational groups, such as platform workers and migrant care workers. This project seeks to address and take actions to these gaps by building sustainable and gender-transformative social protection systems in India and Sri Lanka. It focuses on extending social insurance schemes to informal workers, including platform and care workers, while prioritizing increased coverage, benefit adequacy, financial sustainability, and gender equality. Key interventions include the development and expansion of employment injury and maternity insurance schemes, and the design of social protection system tailored to the unique needs of care workers. The project also promotes capacity-building for government institutions and social partners, strengthening tripartite social dialogue and fostering regional knowledge-sharing through South-South cooperation. A regional platform enables the exchange of good practices, build capacity, and drive sustainable reforms. Through these efforts, the project aims to improve a well-being of informal and care workers, reduce inequalities, and create more resilient, inclusive, and gender-equitable social protection framework across South Asia.SDG
Goals
- End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- Reduce inequality within and among countries
Time
20.03.2025 - 31.12.2025
Budget
0 / 797.157
Development Cooperation