Social protection plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable development. At its core, sustainable development aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Social protection mechanisms contribute to this goal by reducing poverty, fostering social inclusion, and promoting economic stability.

Social protection systems, when universal, inclusive, sustainable, and growth friendly, can prepare, prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of shocks through programmes and services for individuals and families facing risks, poverty, and vulnerability. This resilience-building aspect is essential for development, as it allows communities to prepare, withstand and recover from adverse events, ultimately reducing the likelihood of falling into cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

This document outlines the programmatic offer of social protection for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This approach draws from insights provided by UNDP’s Global Social Protection Offer 2.0, as well as from relevant documents recently developed by the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNDP RBLAC).