A new UN DESA policy brief calls for the gradual expansion of social protection systems across Pacific small island developing States (SIDS), highlighting their potential to reduce poverty, strengthen resilience and support sustainable development.
The policy brief, The Transformative Potential of Expanding Social Protection in Pacific Small Island Developing States, notes that social protection is both a human right and an important tool for protecting people from risks throughout their lives, including sickness, disability, unemployment and old age, as well as from major shocks such as disasters and food, fuel and commodity-price crises.
Social protection coverage varies significantly across Pacific SIDS. While more than 90 per cent of the population is covered by at least one social protection benefit in the Cook Islands, coverage remains below 30 per cent in several countries, including Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Many countries also face high levels of informal employment, geographic isolation and repeated exposure to climate and economic shocks.
The brief emphasizes that countries with limited coverage do not need to build comprehensive systems all at once. Instead, they can begin with a small number of affordable and easy-to-administer guarantees, such as social pensions or child grants, and progressively expand them as fiscal and administrative capacity grows.
Investments in registration, payment systems, civil registration, grievance mechanisms and information systems are also essential. While digital tools can improve efficiency and transparency, the brief cautions that they should not create additional barriers for people without bank accounts or reliable connectivity, or for those facing language, disability or geographic barriers.
Beyond providing income security, well-designed social protection can protect spending on food, health and education, strengthen human capital, support local economies and provide governments with systems that can be rapidly scaled up during crises. The brief cites World Bank estimates suggesting that every US$1 transferred to households in poverty can generate about US$2.50 in local economic activity.
The policy brief also points to opportunities for Pacific SIDS to learn from regional peers and work with international partners to strengthen delivery systems, financing and institutional capacity. It links these efforts to recent international commitments, including the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, the Sevilla Commitment and the Doha Political Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
Ultimately, the brief argues that expanding social protection is both a development priority and a resilience strategy for Pacific SIDS. By starting with practical guarantees, investing in delivery systems and progressively expanding coverage, countries can build durable national social protection systems that support people throughout their lives and respond more effectively when crises strike.
