In Latin America and the Caribbean, extreme weather events have doubled in the last 30 years. Not only are these events more frequent, but they are also increasingly intense. Nine countries in the region rank among the world's top 20 nations with the highest risk of disasters. Between 2000 and 2019, more than 20 devastating hurricanes impacted families, communities, businesses, and infrastructure.
As climate change accelerates in the region, disasters pose significant threats to the poorest and most vulnerable households by exacerbating poverty and worsening already precarious living conditions. This situation threatens to reverse years of development gains.
The World Bank has underscored the importance of Adaptive Social Protection (ASP), a framework aimed at enhancing social protection systems to better prepare for major emergencies. This approach seeks to strengthen the resilience of impoverished households.
A new report titled "Unleashing Adaptive Potential for Social Protection – Good Adaptive Social Protection Practices in The Latin America and Caribbean Region" presents findings from the World Bank's Social Protection Stress Test Assessments. These assessments were conducted by the Social Protection and Disaster Risk Management team across 14 countries between 2021 and 2023. The Social Protection Stress Test evaluates how adaptive national social protection systems are in scaling up to meet growing needs during different shocks.
The report compiles good practices from various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering guidance for fostering dialogue and enhancing social protection systems' adaptability during crises.
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