Abstract
Social protection is increasingly recognized as an essential building block for sustainable development policies that promote inclusive growth. Social protection policies contribute to supporting both economic and social development, and are an essential element of a rights-based approach to development. It is now better understood that social protection policies are not merely a vehicle for the transfer of income in cash and in kind aiming at smoothing consumption, but also an investment in people, which can enhance their capabilities and enable them to engage in productive employment in a much broader way.