Maximising social protection's contribution to human capital development

Adequate nutrition can drive human capital development by preventing stunting and allowing children to reach their full potential, leading more productive and healthier lives.

National social protection programmes have an instrumental role in improving nutrition. Social protection programmes can reach underserved populations, who are difficult to access through health and nutrition platforms. When social protection programmes are appropriately designed and tailored, they can reduce economic barriers to nutritious diets for vulnerable groups across the lifecycle.

Analytical tools such as the World Food Programme’s Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNG) analysis enable policymakers and programme managers to evaluate and compare the potential contribution of social protection programmes to nutrition, informing national dialogue to make social protection work better for nutrition and human capital development.