Resources

Related Links

This section contains useful links to internet sources of information on safety nets-related issues, including links to related policy and research institutions. While we hope you find the links below of value, please note that the World Bank is not responsible for the content of non-World Bank websites.

General
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - International Poverty Centre The International Poverty Centre (IPC) is the newest unit of the United Nations Development Programme. It is one of three global thematic facilities that have been established by UNDP to bring knowledge-based development services closer to their country partners around the world. Of particular interest may be the IPC's on-line publications.
World Bank Institute - Social Safety Nets The World Bank Institute (WBI) is the capacity development arm of the World Bank, and helps countries share and apply global and local knowledge to meet development challenges. WBI's capacity development programs are designed not only to build skills among groups of individuals involved in performing tasks, but also to strengthen the organizations in which they work, and the sociopolitical environment in which they operate.
World Bank PovertyNet PovertyNet provides an introduction to key issues as well as in-depth information on poverty measurement, monitoring, analysis, and on poverty reduction strategies for researchers and practitioners.
World Bank Social Protection The Social Protection Unit, as part of the Human Development Network, supports the World Bank and client countries to assist individuals, households and communities to better manage the income and welfare risks that affect vulnerable groups.

Economic Crisis & Natural Disasters
ProVention Consortium The ProVention Consortium is a global coalition of governments, international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations dedicated to increasing the safety of vulnerable communities and to reducing the impact of disasters in developing countries.
World Bank Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) The Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal platform for dialogue and cooperation between fifteen European Union member states, the European Commission and ten Asian countries. It provides a space for dialogue addressing political, economic and cultural issues in the spirit of strengthening relations between the 2 regions.
World Bank Urban Development - Hazard Risk Management The World Bank's Hazard Risk Management team aims to reduce human suffering and economic losses caused by natural and technological disasters. They do this by helping the World Bank provide a more strategic and rapid response to disasters, and promoting the integration of disaster prevention and mitigation efforts into the range of development activities.

Food-related Programs
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) IFPRI's mission is to provide policy solutions that cut hunger and malnutrition. This mission flows from the CGIAR mission: "To achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through scientific research and research-related activities in the fields of agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries, policy, and natural resources management."
World Bank Health, Nutrition & Population The World Bank's mission in this area is to assist clients to improve health, nutrition, and population outcomes of poor people and protect people from the impoverishing effects of illness, malnutrition, and high fertility.

Gender
World Bank Gender & Development The World Bank views the third Millennium Development Goal—to promote gender equality and empower women—as a central component to its overall mission to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. The Bank has an Operational Policy that spells out its responsibilities in this area, and a strategy to implement this policy. This website provides information on Bank policy, strategy and implementation, as well as tools useful for integrating gender issues into analytical work, development operations and capacity building.

Microfinance
Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Microfinance Microfinance plays a significant role in ADB's overarching goal to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Providing access to microfinance can prove to be an effective way of reaching the poor - and improving their lives.
Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) CGAP is a consortium of 28 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor in developing countries. CGAP was created by these aid agencies and industry leaders to help create permanent financial services for the poor on a large scale (often referred to as "microfinance").
Development Gateway Community on Microfinance The goal of the Microfinance Community is to assist microfinance institutions in finding sustainable means of becoming as effective as possible at what they do by providing these institutions with a place to share experiences, discuss vital issues, keep up-to-date and find useful background material.
Grameen Bank - What is Microcredit? Grameen Bank provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh without any collateral.
Journal of Microfinance The Journal of Microfinance is a forum for the sharing of ideas and information pertaining to the practice of microfinance and microenterprise development. The Journal's purpose is to influence practice by focusing on experiences and lessons learned from the field.
Latin American Consortium for Training in Microfinancing (COLCAMI) (in Spanish) COLCAMI's mission is to strengthen the capacity of formal and informal financial institutions to provide high-quality sustainable financial services to microenterprises in the interamerican region.
Microcredit Summit Campaign The Microcredit Summit Campaign brings together microcredit practitioners, advocates, educational institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and others involved with microcredit to promote best practices in the field and to learn from each other.
Microfinance Gateway The Microfinance Gateway is an online resource for the microfinance industry. It includes research and publications, specialized resource centers, organization and consultant profiles, and the latest news, events, and job opportunities in microfinance.
MicroFinance Network The MicroFinance Network (MFN) is a global association of leading microfinance institutions committed to improving the quality of life of the poor through the provision of credit, savings, and other financial services.
Promotion of the Microfinance Sector (ProMiS) ProMiS is a cooperation programme implemented by the Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka, in collaboration with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The overall goal of ProMiS is to enhance and improve in a sustainable manner, the services offered by selected microfinance institutions (MFIs) to the poorer sections of society and to micro and small enterprises.
United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF Microfinance) UNCDF's overarching goal is to help reduce poverty. Its particular approach is to invest with the poor, building the productive capacity and self-reliance of poor communities by increasing their access to essential local infrastructure and services. The Fund also works to strengthen these communities' influence over economic and social investments that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.
Virtual Library on Microcredit The Virtual Library on Microcredit is a repository of information on alternative, non-conventional financial systems and microfinance/microcredit issues.
World Bank Financial Sector - Rural and Microfinance/SMEs The objective of the World Bank group's strategy is to increase access to financial services and low-income households by addressing three principal areas: Fundamental framework: the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks that allow innovative financial institutions to develop and operate effectively; Institution building: exposure to and training in best practices that banks and microfinance organizations need to expand their outreach and develop sustainable operations, along with performance-based support for capacity building; and Innovative approaches: leasing, lending and other products that the World Bank Group can use to increase access to financial services.
World Bank Social Funds - Microfinance The World Bank Social Funds Team is committed to fostering innovation and heightening the impact of social fund investments, to improve the well-being of poor and vulnerable groups served by these programs. The Team is comprised of a group of professionals developing knowledge management products on cross-sectoral themes, designing training programs, enhancing the quality of the social fund portfolio, and improving the design and implementation of social fund operations across regions.

OECD
Brookings Institution - Social Policy The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities This US-based policy organization works at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The site provides online Information about key US Low-Income Benefit Programs.
EUROPA - Social Protection in the EU Member States and the European Economic Area The Mutual Information System on Social Protection (MISSOC) was established in 1990 to promote a continuous exchange of information on social protection among the EU Member States. MISSOC has become the central information source on social protection legislation in all Member States of the European Union and countries of the European Economic Area.
MDRC This US-based non-profit social policy organization works to promote family well-being, child development, and successful transitions to adulthood; improve public education; support low-wage workers and communities; and overcome barriers to employment.
Service-public.fr - Revenu minimum d'insertion (RMI)(in French) This French civil service site has practical guides classified by theme, a civil service directory and public web sites directory and you can use the links to access the texts of laws, public reports and job offers in the civil service.
UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) The DWP works to "promote opportunity and independence for all; help individuals achieve their potential through employment and work to end poverty in all its forms."
US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) This federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with State governments to administer Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and health insurance portability standards.
US Department of Agriculture Food Stamps Program (FSP) The USDA Food Stamp Program serves as the first line of defense against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with coupons and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Food stamp recipients spend their benefits to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores.
US Department of Health & Human Services Office of Family Assistance (OFA) The Office of Family Assistance administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families by granting States the federal funds and wide flexibility to develop and implement their own welfare programs.
US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination.
Urban Institute - Assessing the New Federalism The Assessing the New Federalism research policy center tracks how children and families in the US are faring and how program structure, financing, and administration are changing as the federal government transfers authority for health and social welfare programs to states.

Orphans & Vulnerable Children
CARE International UK - HIV and AIDS In more than two dozen high-risk countries CARE Internal UK runs 126 projects. With local partners, CARE's working not only to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS and provide care and support for those affected, but also to find lasting solutions to wider social and economic problems that exacerbate the crisis.
CARE USA - Children and Poverty Campaign CARE USA works with poor communities in more than 70 countries around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty. With a broad range of programs based on empowerment, equity and sustainability, CARE seeks to tap human potential and leverage the power of individuals and communities to unleash a vast force for progress.
Development Gateway - HIV/AIDS The HIV/AIDS Page is geared to providing needed information and to those most involved in fighting the AIDS pandemic in developing countries: governments, NGOs, health professionals, donor agency workers, researchers, activists and persons living with HIV. The page will complement the many excellent AIDS sites maintained by other organizations by offering an interactive and multi-stakeholder platform that a variety of organizations can use to widely disseminate high value knowledge and information.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) - Children UNAIDS' mission is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.
PLAN International Plan supports people to end poverty in their community, so that every child can realise their potential. Its long-term development approach involves working in partnership with people of all ages within communities, to address the causes of poverty.
UNICEF - Child protection UNICEF believes that everyone has a responsibility to see that children are safe. UNICEF works with individuals, civic groups, governments and the private sector to help create protective environments for them. Healthy, nurturing surroundings allow children to resist abuse and avoid exploitation. Caring environments fortify children against harm in the same way that proper nutrition and good health care fortify them against disease.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - Children Affected by HIV/AIDS USAID is funding more than 75 activities in 22 countries to help families and communities create and sustain a supportive environment for children affected by HIV/AIDS. USAID activities include material support, such as food, school fees, shelter, and clothing, in addition to economic strengthening, counseling, psychological support, and community care.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - Displaced Children and Orphans Fund USAID's Displaced Children and Orphans Fund supports programs that help families and communities provide the necessary care, protection, and support for children in need.
World Bank Africa Region - Intensifying Action Against HIV/AIDS Recognizing the negative impact the pandemic is having on Africa’s development efforts, the World Bank – the largest long-term investor in combating HIV/AIDS in developing countries – has, notably since 1986, placed it at the center of its work in Africa.
World Bank Children & Youth - OVC The World Bank's Children & Youth Team was established within the Human Development Network to guide and foster coordination and partnerships that contribute to more effective children and youth development work.
World Bank Global HIV/AIDS Program The Global HIV/AIDS Program was created to support the World Bank's efforts to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic from a cross-sectoral perspective. The program offers global learning and knowledge sharing on approaches and best practices to addressing HIV/AIDS. A key function of the Global HIV/AIDS Program is to lead the monitoring and evaluation efforts of UNAIDS partners at country level.
World Vision International - Child Rights In seeking to build a safe world for children, World Vision advocates for the promotion and protection of children and their rights. Its commitment to the most marginalised means that World Vision seeks to advocate on behalf of those children who are most vulnerable, including street children, child labourers, sexually exploited and abused children, children with disabilities, girl children, children who are orphaned, refugee children and children affected by armed conflict.

Post-conflict
Japan International Cooperation Agency - Peacebuilding The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is advancing its activities around the pillars of a field-oriented approach, human security, and enhanced effectiveness, efficiency, and speed.
Linking Complex Emergency Response and Transition Initiative (CERTI) The CERTI program aims to prevent and mitigate conflict as well as to improve timely and appropriate response and transition (CPMR) support to populations affected by conflict. CERTI assists USAID and other international organizations in analyzing conflict causes, consequences and the effectiveness of programs to address conflict and complex emergencies; developing tools and training modules to assist implementing agencies in planning and evaluation in the context of conflict/complex emergencies, and disseminating best practices related to CPMR.
United Nations Development Programme - Conflict Prevention and Peace Building UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ReliefWeb ReliefWeb is the world’s leading on-line gateway to information (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disasters. An independent vehicle of information, designed specifically to assist the international humanitarian community in effective delivery of emergency assistance, it provides timely, reliable and relevant information as events unfold, while emphasizing the coverage of "forgotten emergencies" at the same time.
United States Agency for International Development - Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) CMM leads USAID's efforts to identify and analyze sources of conflict and fragility; supports early responses to address the causes and consequences of instability and violent conflict; and seeks to integrate conflict mitigation and management into USAID's analysis, strategies and programs.
World Bank Social Development - Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction The Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit provides guidance on integrating a sensitivity to conflict into World Bank activities, including through conflict analysis aimed at optimizing policy and project design in conflict-affected countries. It further develops specific tools and strategies to contribute to development in those countries and supports research on the economic causes and consequences of conflict.

Transition to a Market Economy
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (IRC) - MONEE Project The MONEE Project, Monitoring the impact of social and economic policies on children, conducts research on child well-being in the 27 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The results of this research are presented in the annual Innocenti Social Monitor, periodic Innocenti Social Reports on specific topics, and a variety of Innocenti working papers and other publications.
World Bank Europe & Central Asia Region The last decade of the 20th century witnessed a process of change - commonly known as 'transition' - that transformed the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The World Bank has worked with these countries from the earliest phases of transition to the present to improve the living standards of their people, promote economic growth, and ensure that future generations benefit from sound environmental practices and social development.

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