Gender and risk in the design of social protection interventions

This paper outlines a framework for analysing the gender dimensions of risk and its effects on the outcomes of individuals, households, and various vulnerable groups. It documents the gender disaggregated impact of shocks, based on available empirical evidence.

Conclusions:

• current evidence suggests that shocks can lead to differences in outcomes by gender
• the most important factor that mitigates against adverse shocks is household level assets (the evidence shows that differences in gender outcomes are largest for the poorest households)
• men and women may be exposed to different risks or may experience varying degrees of vulnerability; these differences in vulnerability are strongly influenced by differences in asset ownership
• gender roles and social norms determine whose labour is used as a buffer against shocks

Given these results, and the review of gender issues specific to a subgroup of social protection programs (namely, safety nets, pensions, and unemployment programs), the paper outlines specific steps that can be taken to incorporate gender considerations in the design of these programs.