This report offers a fresh perspective on Africa’s most enduring systems of support—community-based social protection organizations (CBSPOs). Rooted in traditions of solidarity and mutual aid, CBSPOs have long helped millions of Africans navigate economic hardship, climate shocks, and health crises, especially where formal systems are limited.

Drawing on field research from Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, the report highlights how CBSPOs empower women, foster inclusion, and build resilience from the ground up. It calls for a new policy approach that recognizes, protects, and scales these community-driven mechanisms.

At its core is a bold call to action: invest in what works, bridge community and state systems, and ensure no one is left behind. Grounded in evidence and aligned with both Agenda 2063 and the SDGs, this is a distinctly African roadmap for inclusive, resilient social protection.