Reimagining Social Protection

Academics from several countries recently gathered at the Brighton-based Institute for Development Studies to debate pressing issues around social protection. The September conference, titled “Reimagining Social Protection in a Time of Global Uncertainty,” saw researchers present critical new analyses on supporting societies during unstable times.

Patience Masi discussed her work tracking social protection efforts in Malawi amid the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Giorgia Nicolo presented her examination of South African media discourses around “basic” or “universal” income programs.

Providing a comparative perspective, IDCPPA's interim Director Prof Jeremy Seekings presented a literature review exploring the political dynamics of social protection in Africa through history and into an uncertain future. The diverse panel explored strategies for strengthening community resilience in volatile periods through focused, data-driven discussions.