This literature review explores two main issues relating to the social protection response to the food, fuel and financial crisis of 2007-2009 – the so-called ‘triple F crisis’ – in low- and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs):

• the expectations and perspectives of development partners on the role of social protection in shock response, and

• the experience of scaling up social protection responses during the 2007-2009 ‘triple crisis’ (food, fuel and finance) in low- and middle-income countries, and the implications for future shock readiness.

The review identifies and discusses the main types of social protection instruments adopted – social assistance, social security, and active labour-market policies (ALMPs) – and examines the relative merits and drawbacks of each in low- and middle- income countries. 

Anna McCord