Strengthening social protection in Bangladesh: What reforms are most urgently needed?
This policy brief summarises some of the most pressing structural and operational challenges constraining the effectiveness of Bangladesh's social protection system and suggests a set of remedial measures.
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Razzaque-et-al-Policy-Brief-March-2025_Social-Protection-Reform.pdf
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- This brief summarises some of the most pressing structural and operational challenges constraining the effectiveness of Bangladesh's social protection system and suggests remedial measures to ameliorate the situation.
- The decade-long reform timeline outlined in the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) is approaching its conclusion. However, the social protection system continues to grapple with many of the very challenges that the reform agenda was designed to address. Persistent issues—notably inadequate resource allocation, widespread programme fragmentation, and weak institutional capacity—have significantly undermined the system's effectiveness.
- Recommendations outline a pragmatic reform agenda aimed at streamlining and strengthening budgetary allocations, improving coverage, efficiency, and equity in social protection delivery, and enhancing institutional readiness for emerging demographic and economic transitions.