The World Bank publishes “State of Social Protection Report 2025: The 2-Billion-Person Challenge”

Social protection goes well beyond cash transfers; it includes policies and programmes that bridge skill, financial, and information gaps, aiding people in securing better jobs. The three pillars of social protection—social assistance, social insurance, and labour market programmes—support households and workers in handling crises, escaping poverty, facing transitions, and seizing employment opportunities. But despite a substantial expansion over the past decade, 2-billion people remain uncovered or inadequately covered across low- and middle-income countries. Drawing from administrative and household survey data from...