Social Assistance, Livelihoods, and Adaptation: Responding to Climate Change and Conflict in Niger

<p dir="ltr">This Working Paper examines the role of social assistance in supporting coping, adaptation, and resilience, given the impacts of climate change and violent conflict in Niger. Examining how social assistance mechanisms address livelihood challenges in contexts of intersecting crises, this paper shows that while existing forms of social assistance – both formal initiatives and communal mechanisms – support some level of shorter-term coping with and recovery from shocks, they are not necessarily providing foundations for longer-term adaptation and resilience. The potential of social assistance initiatives to support longer-term adaptations and resilience capacities in the face of climate change is constrained by wider insecurity and political-economic conditions. Looking forward, opportunities exist for strengthening both formal and communal assistance mechanisms in the face of compounding crises.</p>