EXECUTIVE SUMMARY :

Social Safety Nets have been an essential component in the fight against poverty. Initially focused only on protection goals, they are now increasingly combining promotional goals too. Over the years, Bangladesh has introduced a plethora of safety net programmes. However, such growth has often been ad hoc and lacking a systematic overview. The need for a comprehensive and strategic framework within which to consolidate social safety nets has emerged as an increasing pre-occupation within the wider policy community. To address such a need, PPRC, with support from UNDP, undertook a comprehensive Study of social safety nets in operation in Bangladesh.

The current volume  focuses on implementation and outcome realities of SSN programmes and the policy challenges implied
therein. The field assessment covered ten major programmes covering major types as well as GO and NGO mandates. The overall objective was to examine the SSN clientele, establish the nature and extent of coverage, review process realities, and,
assess outcomes. To address adequately the complexity of the subject, a mixed method approach combining both quantitative and qualitative instruments was followed.