Climate-adaptive social protection in Pakistan: Insights from the 2nd National Social Protection Conference

Social protection in Pakistan has evolved significantly in recent years, yet the growing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters highlight the critical need for more adaptive approaches to protect vulnerable populations.

This was the backdrop for the recent 2nd National Social Protection Conference in Karachi. Hosted by GIZ Pakistan on behalf of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the conference brought together key stakeholders from government, international development, academia, and civil society.

We provided support for the conference on behalf of KfW Development Bank as part of the German Development Cooperation initiative.

Reimagining climate-adaptive social protection

Our Senior Consultant Maheen Zahra presented findings from a KfW-commissioned feasibility study on Social Protection for Health and Climate Resilience. The study addresses a fundamental challenge in Pakistan's approach to climate disasters: the need to shift from reactive interventions to anticipatory, pre-emptive actions that rely on well-coordinated systems. 

The framework presented at the conference reimagines social protection through four integrated building blocks: 

•    Institutional Arrangements
•    Financing
•    Data and Information
•    Programmes and Delivery Systems

What makes this approach particularly innovative is its departure from traditional targeting methods. Rather than relying solely on income-based poverty metrics, the framework recognises that climate vulnerability often transcends socioeconomic status alone. This nuanced understanding allows for more precise identification of at-risk communities.

Against this backdrop, we have used a three-pronged approach that caters to three windows of resilience, enhancing the climate-vulnerable population’s ability to prepare, cope and adapt to climate shocks, is supported by practical implementation mechanisms, including spatial platforms for household risk assessment and ring-fenced financing activated by forecast-based triggers.

Governance and financing of social protection systems in a devolved context

During a panel discussion moderated by Maheen, robust discussions on governance challenges in Pakistan's devolved system took centre stage, with particular attention to the implications of the September 2024 National Fiscal Pact.

Senior government officials explored various coordination mechanisms that could enhance programme delivery while respecting provincial autonomy. Discussions highlighted the potential for innovative institutional arrangements, drawing inspiration from other sectors where federally-guided, provincially-implemented approaches have proven effective. 

Given what constitutes as vulnerability will continue to expand against the backdrop of multiple planetary and socioeconomic crises, Maheen noted that financing solutions will need to be responsive to the needs of those worst off, including women, children, the elderly, communities that are socially, politically and/or culturally excluded, and workers in the informal economy. To conclude, Maheen posed a question for the wider audience: “will we be in a position to enable social protection to be less palliative and more preventive, using effective financing mechanisms?”

Moving Forward

One of the major outcomes from the event was a joint statement outlining concrete steps for strengthening Pakistan's adaptive social protection systems, emphasising enhanced coordination, data integration, and sustainable financing mechanisms. Throughout the conference, Zujaja Baig (PSP) and Faaiz Gilani (CSR) collaborated with the organising team led by GIZ, documenting valuable inputs on the topics of discussion, leading to the creation of a joint statement, which remains a key output of the three-day conference.

As climate vulnerabilities continue to evolve, the frameworks and partnerships developed at this conference represent an important step toward building systems that not only respond to crises but actively prepare communities to withstand them.

We’d like to thank all the panellists at this event; Mr Ali Raza Bhutta, (Ex-Secretary, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)), Mr Muhammad Nadeem Memon (Joint Secretary Finance Division, Ministry of Finance), and Mr Muhammad Taufeeq (Additional Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mr. Noor Ul Haq Baloch (Focal Person to Chief Minister Social Protection, Balochistan), Mr. Ali Shehzad, (CEO, Punjab Social Protection Authority), Mr. Irshad Ahmad Quereshi (Secretary Social Welfare Department, Azad Jammu and Kashmir).
 

From left to right – Maheen Zahra (Senior Consultant, Poverty and Social Protection, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Memon (Joint Secretary, Finance Division, Government of Pakistan), Mr. Mohammad Taufique (Additional Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

As above

Maheen Zahra (Senior Consultant, Poverty and Social Protection, OPM Pakistan)

Zujaja Baig (Assistant Consultant, Poverty and Social Protection, OPM Pakistan)

From left to right: Zujaja Baig (Assistant Consultant, Poverty and Social Protection, OPM Pakistan), Maheen Zahra (Senior Consultant, Poverty and Social Protection, OPM Pakistan), Faaiz Gilani (Assistant Consultant, Climate Policy and Finance, OPM Pakistan).