Comprehensive Social Protection as an Enabler of Complex Developmental Synergies in South Africa

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ID: 314488
2026
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Abstract
Abstract This chapter reviews evidence from South Africa and other countries on the capacity of comprehensive social protection to tackle complex problems by enabling inter-sectoral developmental synergies. Social protection has grown faster than other policy sectors over the past three decades not only because of its effectiveness in tackling poverty and vulnerability but also due to its productive interaction with diverse development domains. This chapter explores social protection’s complexity management capacity both to integrate complementary interventions and build developmental synergies in three related areas: (1) nutrition, (2) “graduation” programs supporting livelihoods, and (3) systems approaches to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter’s unifying theme explores social protection’s unique ability to improve complexity management, with implications for policy leadership, design, implementation, financing, monitoring, and evaluation. One globally well-documented example illustrates how improving nutritional outcomes requires complex interactions of multi-sectoral interventions, where each sector plays an essential role in achieving impact. Any singular breakdown in the core systems driving effectiveness (food security, health, education, livelihoods, social protection, care practices, water, sanitation) disproportionately exacerbates malnutrition. During pandemics, the challenges multiply. COVID-19 and future similar crises—including climate change—threaten many of these failures simultaneously, with uncertainty and disruption paralyzing the actions required for effective response. Exploring this overarching example of complexity, this chapter reviews the literature on how optimal integration of inter-sectoral investments—with social protection as the linchpin—generates synergy-related dividends across the development spectrum.
Reference Key
openalex_W7162029452 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Michael Samson
Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197761465.013.0006
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197761465.013.0006
Keywords Keywords not found

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