This cutting-edge Handbook argues for social protection to be situated in a wider system of social welfare and development programmes for low- and middle-income countries. Focusing on the role of citizens and communities in enhancing human development, it explores how welfare systems are unfolding in diverse contexts across the global South.

This exciting and innovative Handbook provides readers with a comprehensive and globally relevant overview of the instruments, actors and design features of social protection systems, as well as their application and impacts in practice. It is the first book that centres around system building globally, a theme that has gained political importance yet has received relatively little attention in academia.

'The Handbook of Social Policy' is a comprehensive examination of the development, implementation and impact of social policy. The contributors document the substantial body of knowledge about government social policies and their driving forces.

Comprises 33 papers grouped under five themes: The Nature of social policy; The History of social policy; Social policy and the social services; The Political economy of social policy; and International and future perspectives on social policy.

The Handbook of Social Policy and Development makes a groundbreaking, coherent case for enhancing collaboration between social policy and development. With wide ranging chapters, it discusses a myriad of ways in which this can be done, exploring both academic and practical activities. As the conventional distinction between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries becomes increasingly blurred, this Handbook explores how collaboration between social policy and development is needed to meet global social needs.

This highly original and thought-provoking book examines the recent expansion of social protection in China, India, Brazil and South Africa four countries experiencing rapid economic growth and social change. The authors explore the developments in each country, analyse the impact of government cash transfers and discuss key future trends. The study reveals that social protection has complemented economic growth and supported development efforts and has been fundamental to promoting equitable and sustainable societies. The book is essential reading for students of social policy, economics, development studies and public administration and will be an important resource for policymakers and administrators everywhere.

The Social Protection Floor Initiative promotes universal access to essential social transfers and services. Presently 80% of the global population does not enjoy a set of social guarantees that allows them to deal with life’s risks such as unemployment, ill health, and natural disasters. This book explores the importance and necessity of social protection, including key concepts, universal principles and human rights, the need for context-specific policies, the role of adaptive climate change, and country examples. Social protection refers to a set of essential transfers, services and facilities that all citizens everywhere should enjoy to ensure the realization of the rights embodied in human rights treaties. The Social Protection Floor aims to facilitate and accelerate the introduction or strengthening of sustainable context-specific social protection systems. Experiences from countries around the world that have implemented components of the Social Protection Floor provide evidence of its feasibility, affordability, and impact. The promise and success of social protection is important for transformative change, social inclusion, and alliance building, and raises critical questions about current neoliberal austerity measures. This book calls for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, integrated and innovative policy mix that recognizes the interdependency between demographic shifts, employment, labour migration, social protection, economic development, and the environment.