The impact of COVID-19 on social protection is the fourth in a series of policy papers examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Iraq. The first paper looked at the effects on fragility, the second examined the macroeconomic consequences, while the third reviewed the impact on social cohesion.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will present additional thematic policy papers in the coming months on the implications for environmental sustainability and the socioeconomic fallout on vulnerable households. The aim of these policy documents is to offer a comprehensive overview of how the pandemic is affecting the social and economic context of Iraq. This responds to the recent call from the United Nations Secretary-General for ideas on surviving and recovering from the pandemic so that families and businesses can stay afloat, and the foundation for an inclusive recovery can be laid to ensure attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).