BASIC Research
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Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research aims to inform policy and programming on how to help poor and vulnerable people cope better with crises and meet their basic needs through more effective social assistance in contexts of recurrent shocks, climate crises, humanitarian crises, protracted conflict and forced displacement.
Recent Submissions
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A Literature Review on Social Assistance and Capacity in Yemen
(Institute of Development Studies, 2023-10-25)This review summarises the key literature and evidence on the capacities of national and international actors involved in providing social assistance in Yemen. It has been undertaken to inform a Yemen study on social ... -
BASIC Research in Country Focus: Lebanon
(Institute of Development Studies, 2023-07-13)This note summarises the work that Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research is carrying out in Lebanon, as of July 2023. BASIC Research is working across over 11 countries, including Lebanon. There are three projects ... -
Cash-Plus Programming in Protracted Crises: A Review of Programmes in Contexts of Overlapping Conflict, Forced Displacement and Climate-Related Shocks
(Institute of Development Studies, 2023-06-19)This paper explores the nature and effectiveness of cash-plus programmes in protracted crisis settings characterised by conflict, displacement and recurrent climate shocks. Despite limited evidence on their suitability or ... -
Financing in Fragile and Conflict Contexts: Evidence, Opportunities, and Barriers
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-12-13)Interconnecting, compounding and protracted crises affect a growing number of countries. Globally, 1.5 billion people – one in five of the world’s population – live in fragile and conflict affected situations (FCAS), yet ... -
BASIC Research in Country Focus: Ethiopia
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-11)This note summarises the work that Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research is carrying out in Ethiopia, as of November 2022. BASIC Research is a FCDO funded programme examining why, how and when to use social protection ... -
What is Known About Capacity and Coordination of Social Assistance Programmes in Crisis Situations?
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-10-21)This paper reviews the literature and documented evidence on capacity and coordination issues in crisis situations, where social protection and humanitarian assistance intersect. The paper finds that while there is a ... -
Moving Targets: Social Protection as a Link Between Humanitarianism, Development and Displacement
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-06-07)Despite the widespread concern with social protection in the field of development, it has had little impact on displacement until very recently. UNHCR has had a Social Protection Unit since 2009, but social protection is ... -
Strengthening Responses at the Nexus of Social Protection, Humanitarian Aid and Climate Shocks in Protracted Crises: BASIC Research Framing Paper
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-05-24)The Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research programme seeks to better understand how to strengthen routine social assistance in the most difficult protracted crises – places where compounding shocks such as climate ... -
Sustaining Existing Social Protection Programmes During Crises: What Do We Know? How Can We Know More?
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-05-11)Research on social assistance in crisis situations has focused predominantly on how social assistance can flex in response to rapid-onset emergencies such as floods or hurricanes and to slower-onset shocks such as drought. ... -
Accountability in Crises: Connecting Evidence from Humanitarian and Social Protection Approaches to Social Assistance
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)Social assistance in crises, whether part of a social protection system or driven by humanitarian needs, provides crucial support to people affected by disaster and conflict. Accountability is a central component of ... -
Key Considerations for Targeting Social Assistance in Situations of Protracted Crises
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)Targeting social assistance in situations of protracted conflict, protracted displacement, or recurrent climate shock, so that it reaches those most in need rapidly, effectively and without doing further harm, has historically ... -
The Effects of Social Assistance Interventions on Gender, Familial and Household Relations Among Refugees and Displaced Populations: A Review of the Literature on Interventions in Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)This literature review aims to explore the evidence on the effects of social assistance on gender, familial, and household relations and power dynamics among refugees and (internally) displaced populations in Syria, Iraq, ... -
The Politics of Donor and Government Approaches to Social Protection and Humanitarian Policies for Assistance During Crises
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)This paper examines social protection policy processes in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS). It explores what the policies of donor governments, aid agencies, and crisis-affected governments reveal about the ... -
Value for Money of Social Assistance in Fragile Contexts: Considerations, Evidence, and Research Priorities
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)Value for Money (VfM) is an essential tool for balancing difficult policy and programme decisions. While many of the conceptual approaches to VfM and methods for estimation are similar between regular development programming ... -
Shock-Responsive Social Protection: What is Known About What Works in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations?
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-03)While shock-responsive social protection (SRSP) has become popular in global and national development discourses, its operationalisation in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) remains more limited, yet it is ... -
Beyond Rights-Based Social Protection for Forcibly Displaced People
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-02)Having a right that is not respected is not the same as having no right at all. At least this should not be the case. Failure to receive something to which you are entitled should lead to formal redress or failing that, ... -
Climate Resilience and Social Assistance in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings
(IDS, 2022-02)This paper aims to improve our understanding of the nature, causes, and multiple dimensions of how social assistance may address climate vulnerability and resilience within fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS), ... -
Cash and Livelihoods in Contexts of Conflict and Fragility: Implications for Social Assistance Programming
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-02)This paper examines the role of cash-plus programming (including graduation) for livelihoods, income, protection, and health outcomes in contexts of different conflict intensity. We assess the origins of cash-plus programming ... -
The Risks and Outcomes of Getting Help for Marginalised People: Navigating Access to Social Assistance in Crises
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-02)Crises exacerbate existing inequalities and vulnerabilities for marginalised people, including women and girls, children and youth, older people, people with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, and sexual and ... -
Politics and Governance of Social Assistance in Crises From the Bottom Up
(Institute of Development Studies, 2022-02)This paper reviews existing perspectives on the politics and governance of social assistance in crises from the bottom up – from sub-national regions (or states/provinces) down to districts, sub-districts, towns, and ...