Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition: a Business Case

While social protection programmes—such as cash transfers, food assistance, vouchers, and school meals—are proven to improve food security and can enhance nutrition outcomes, global coverage remains insufficient, with 3.8 billion people still lacking any form of protection. Effective impact depends on adequate transfer levels, appropriate targeting, strong implementation, and integration with complementary services. Well-designed systems can also mitigate the effects of shocks such as conflict and climate crises when they are shock-responsive and coordinated with humanitarian responses. The report highlights that financing nutrition-sensitive social protection should be viewed as an investment with high economic returns, rather than a cost: malnutrition generates an estimated USD 4 trillion in annual losses, while every USD 1 invested in nutrition can yield up to USD 23 in benefits and stimulate local economies. However, progress is constrained by limited political commitment, low coverage, narrow programme design, and increasingly complex fiscal and risk environments. The report calls for expanded fiscal space, improved programme design focused on vulnerability, stronger monitoring systems, and alignment with global initiatives. Overall, it promotes a forward-looking agenda that integrates nutrition, climate resilience, and human capital development, positioning nutrition-sensitive social protection as a central pillar for long-term wellbeing and sustainable growth.