The intersection of protracted conflict and displacement with recurring climate shocks, alongside the shifting nature of humanitarian responses, presents multiple challenges for how to provide social assistance more effectively in protracted crises.
BASIC (Better Assistance in Crises) Research is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funded programme examining why, how and when to use social protection approaches in different crisis contexts, to deliver more effective social assistance so that vulnerable people cope better with crises and meet their basic needs. The programme’s overarching question is:
In crisis settings, how can international, national and local actors work together to strengthen commitments and effectively, efficiently and sustainably provide social assistance to those in need?
Ultimately, BASIC Research aims to generate evidence and fresh perspectives on how to strengthen social assistance in the most difficult protracted crisis settings and for the populations that are the hardest to reach.
The key themes and related sub-questions for BASIC Research are presented in the table below.
BASIC Research is led by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) together with the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex, and the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) at the University of Wolverhampton, working with an assortment of partners across 11 countries affected by protracted crisis. Deeper research focuses on Lebanon, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.
| Politics and political economy | Climate and Livelihood Resilience | Inclusion and participation | Systems for design and delivery |
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How can international actors support sustained financing and effective coordination of SA in protracted crises?
What are the politics of social assistance in crises? |
In what ways can social assistance in crises effectively contribute to climate change adaptation and resilient livelihoods? |
How can social assistance in crises be more accountable and responsive to gender, age, disability, displacement and other intersecting vulnerabilities? How do people experience and navigate access to social assistance in crises? |
With a focus on targeting and capacity, how can the design and delivery of SA be more resilient, sensitive and responsive in crisis? |
To find out more about BASIC’s themes – take a look at ‘Conflict is the new ‘hazard’ on the social protection block’ blog.
Find out more about other research on social protection and the Centre for Social Protection.
