Social Protection in Southern Africa ─ New Opportunities for Social Development

A new generation of innovative social protection strategies is emerging in southern Africa. Although cash transfers are most prevalent, some country strategies include combinations of interventions such as food, livelihood inputs and support, asset building, public works and social services. The strategies vary in their commitment to social rights, their institutional and funding arrangements, the reach, scope and design of the programmes, and the behavioural conditions attached to grant access. The proliferation of national social protection in the Global South has been widely supported by governments, international agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

This book offers researchers and policymakers much to think about when considering the rapid growth of social protection in southern Africa, the challenges this presents and the opportunities it offers for social development and economic growth. Hence, the book is a contribution to scholarship and policy debate on how to solve intractable social development problems in Africa and elsewhere.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Development Southern Africa.

Leila Patel is Professor of Social Development Studies and Director of the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She has published widely on social welfare, social protection, gender and social development in the African context.

James Midgley is the Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Visiting Professor, Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has published widely on issues of social development, social protection and international social welfare.

Marianne S. Ulriksen is affiliated to the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, as a Senior Research Fellow. Currently residing in Tanzania, Marianne’s research includes: Comparative politics, political economy of welfare policy development, social protection, poverty and inequality, mineral wealth and resource mobilisation, and state-citizens relations.