A country can only be food secure if all four dimensions of food security (availability, accessibility, utilization, and sustainability) are properly addressed. The surge in food prices the world recently experienced has drawn renewed attention to the economic dimension of food security, as an increasing number of families struggle to eat. Although social protection programs can be designed to alleviate the negative effects of economic downturns, they can only do so far in mitigating the inflating costs of healthy diets. While they can provide temporary relief to vulnerable populations, the design of these programs is sometimes not food security-oriented or nutrition-sensitive. In other words, although necessary, social protection is not sufficient to guarantee lasting food security or enhanced nutrition outcomes.

Social protection programs, although targeting the vulnerable, often fail to be inclusive, leaving marginalized groups such as women, children, the elderly, and ethnic or gender minorities without adequate support. In crises, these groups experience heightened risks and inequalities. Moreover, the accessibility of social protection can either increase vulnerability for those already marginalized or, conversely, serve as a strategy for vulnerable individuals to avoid potential negative consequences, such as stigma, exploitation, or abuse. Social protection should, therefore, consider intersecting inequalities to be more effective in addressing food insecurity and ensuring nutrition-sensitive outcomes.

This webinar, based on the 2023 report by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition, focused on the role of social protection in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. It highlighted two main paradoxes: why income security from social protection often doesn’t lead to food security and better nutrition, and why social protection programs targeting vulnerable populations often fail to be inclusive. The webinar also presented case studies from countries like Mexico and India, showcasing the potential impact of well-designed social protection measures in improving food security and nutrition.

Speakers:

• Nick Nisbett, Professorial Research Fellows, Institute of Development Studies
• Stephen Devereux, Professorial Research Fellows, Institute of Development Studies
• Deepta Chopra, Professorial Research Fellows, Institute of Development Studies
• Aradhana Srivastava, Gender and Inclusion Officer, WFP India Country Office
• Francisco Antonio Meza Duran, Acting Head of the General Directorate of Food and Community Development, National System for Integral Family Development, Government of Mexico (SNDIF)

Moderators:

• Juan Gonzalo Jaramillo Mejia, Social Protection Programme Policy Officer, WFP
• Alice Riche, Programme Policy Officer, WFP