This paper analyses Egypt's social protection systems. It asks why poverty is so widespread and why – despite the country's numerous sophisticated social protection systems - social risks are a major contributing factor to poverty in Egypt. It concludes that reforms are due. The existing...

Micro-insurance is seen by many as a promising tool to improve the social protection of low-income earners. This assumption is supported by the positive experience of existing micro-insurance schemes. At the same time, however, many schemes have failed to organize sustainable insurance...

The majority of people in the informal sector have no access to reliable social protection schemes. This holds for the Arab countries just like for other parts of the developing world despite the fact that several Arab countries have made attempts to raise the share of households covered by...

Microinsurance has become a very popular concept in the international development debate. It is an arrangement whereby the members pool their risks, but at contribution levels that even people on low and fluctuating incomes can afford. This concept can be realised for life and disability...

This paper analyses Egypt's social protection systems. It asks why poverty is so widespread and why – despite the country's numerous sophisticated social protection systems - social risks are a major contributing factor to poverty in Egypt. It concludes that reforms are due. The existing...

The introductory article of this special issue looks at the genesis, characteristics and challenges of social protection schemes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It argues that social protection policies in the MENA should be seen as a key ingredient of the social contract that...