The theme of the report is Harnessing social protection for gender equality, resilience and transformation.

• It takes stock of progress, gaps, and challenges in building comprehensive, gender-responsive social protection systems.

Need for Gender responsive social protection (GRSP)

• Gender-responsive approaches for social protection actively seek to respond to gender-specific risks, vulnerabilities and constraints such as 
  • Women’s lesser access to resources, disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work, gender based violence and lack of voice in decision making.
• GRSP approaches acknowledge the nature and intensity of risks and constraints based on gender. 

Key findings of the report

• Two billion women and girls lack access to any form of social protection, such as cash benefits, unemployment insurance, pensions or healthcare.
• Over 63 per cent of women globally still give birth without access to maternity benefits.
• Gender-specific risks and vulnerabilities are exacerbated by factors like conflict, climate change and economic shocks. 

Key recommendations 

• Address gender gaps and biases in existing social protection systems, policies and programmes.
• Improve coordination with gender-responsive employment policies and public services.
• Adapt social protection policies and programmes to meet the needs of women and girls during sudden and protracted crises.
• Take a rights-based approach to social protection delivery.