The World Bank Group supports universal access to social protection, and is central to its goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

Universal social protection includes: adequate cash transfers for all who need them, especially  children; benefits and support for people of working age in case of maternity, disability, work injury or for those without jobs; and pensions the elderly. This protection can be provided through social insurance, tax-funded social benefits, social assistance services, public works programs and other schemes guaranteeing basic income security, as well as skills development to reduce unemployment, raise incomes, and improve standards of living.

Charting a Course Towards Universal Social Protection updates the World Bank strategy for social protection amid rapid change both within the sector beyond.