The Rapid Social Response (RSR), a multi-donor program was established in 2009 to help the world’s poorest countries, in partnership with the World Bank, to build effective social protection systems.
RSR is one of the key instruments for implementing the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor Strategy for resilience, equity and opportunity in IDA-eligible countries. IDA is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries.
RSR is supported by the Russian Federation, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden.
The Rapid Social Response (RSR) library offers publications related to RSR program activities. Here you find stories and project briefs from RSR's projects, RSR-supported publications from government counterparts and other partners, as well as toolkits and guidelines.
RSR Progress Report
 |
RSR Progress Report 2016 |
 |
RSR Progress Report 2015 |
 |
RSR Progress Report 2014 |
 |
RSR Progress Report 2013 |
 |
RSR Progress Report 2012 |
Stories about RSR
 |
Stories from ongoing RSR projects around the world | |
 |
Stories and project briefs from ongoing and completed RSR projects around the world (Archive) |
Policy Notes
 |
How can a country's social safety net system be made more comprehensive and flexible so that it better suits a country's prevailing economic and social conditions? This report contains anassessment of the situation in Cameroon and provides recommendations for reform. |
 |
The Social Protection Sector in Liberia: A Policy Note This policy note, developed with support from RSR, provides recommendations on how the country can make the transition from fragmented social protection programs to an integrated system that can support the poor in stable times and in times of crises. |
Books
 |
The State of Social Safety Nets 2014 |
 |
Simulating Distributional Impacts of Macro-dynamics : Theory and Practical Applications A comprehensive guide for analyzing and understanding the effects of macroeconomic shocks on income and consumption distribution, as well as using the ADePT Simulation Module. |
 |
Given the recent volatility of economic performance, building health sector resilience becomes more critical than ever to prepare for the next downturns. This book aims to 1) build more awareness on how economic downturns may affect the health sector and 2) identify tools and actions that can help mitigate the negative impact of economic downturns. |
 |
Public Works as a Safety Net: Design, Evidence, and Implementation A comprehensive analysis of the design features and operational elements of public works programs around the world. |
 |
Children and Youth in Crises - Protecting and Promoting Human Development in Times of Crises This RSR supported publication highlights the impacts of crises on children around the world, and what can be done to protect them from lasting harm. |
Tools and Guidelines
 |
A Unified Approach to Measuring Poverty and Inequality - Theory and Practice A comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of poverty measurement, supported by RSR. |
 |
Improving Nutrition Through Multisectoral Approaches Building on the extensive nutrition research and evidence on issues of malnutrition, this five module report helps development practitioners and policy makers in different sectors become more nutrition sensitive and mainstream nutrition activities into multisectoral action. |
 |
Improving Nutrition Through Multisectoral Approaches - Agriculture and Rural Development Agriculture and Rural Development |
 |
Improving Nutrition Through Multisectoral Approaches - Health Health |
 |
Improving Nutrition Through Multisectoral Approaches - Social Protection Social Protection |
 |
Successful Strategies for Health Systems In Distress (2012) - (Archive) RSR has supported a report which analyzes how economic downturns affect the performance of healthcare systems and how to mitigate the adverse effects. The report argues that there are a multitude of successful strategies, and presents case studies from Jamaica, Kenya, Mongolia and Tajikistan. |
Brochure
The Value of South-South Exchange
Concluding a five day south-south learning forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, participants reflect on the value of south-south exchanges, what resonated the most, and more importantly strategies they can replicate in their respective countries.
A Day with Brazil’s Innovative Bolsa Familia Program
More than 14 million have benefited from Bolsa Familia, administered by Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger and various local government entities. This conditional cash transfer program costs a mere 1% of Brazil’s GDP and is an integrated part of the government’s “Plano Brasil Sem Miseria” or the “Brazil without Misery Plan.”
Taking Communities of Practice Global
In March 2014, policy-makers and experts gathered together for a week long south-south forum in Brazil where ideas and innovations in delivering social protection systems were shared. Participants were able to learn and exchange knowledge on implementing systems and possible synergies with related social areas such as nutrition, health and employment programs.
Albania’s Story: Reaching the poor in social protection systems
Erion Veliaj, the Minister of Youth and Social Welfare for Albania, shared Albania’s story on modernizing the country’s “Ndihma Ekonomike” cash transfer program at the 2014 South-South Learning Forum.
In Brazil, South-South Exchange Promotes Innovations in Social Protection Systems
Brazilian policymakers reflect on the value of south-south exchanges and share their story and experience in implementing the Bolsa Familia Program.
