Embedding the vulnerable in the millennium development goals: Social protection in poverty reduction strategy papers

Social protection and equity are missing elements of the Millennium Development Goals. Both are essential to redress the situation of the most vulnerable. This study provides a comprehensive review of social protection packages in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and devises an index to evaluate the extent of a country's level of social protection in its development strategy. The findings show that the social protection agenda in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers is more pronounced in countries with higher levels of income and lower levels of ethnic diversity and thatsocial assistance packages are more aligned to higher levels of offiicial development assistance and governance.