Social Protection is an important programme of CSSP and aims to increase opportunities and social safety nets for vulnerable groups, with special focus on women, children, minorities and labourers. Social protection consists of policies and programmes designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption / loss of income.

There are five main areas in social protection:

1. Labour market policies and programmes designed to promote employment, the efficient operation of labour markets and the protection of workers.
2. Social insurance programmes to cushion the risks associated with unemployment, ill health, disability, work-related injury and old age.
3. Social assistance and welfare service programmes for the most vulnerable groups with no other means of adequate support, including single mothers, the homeless, or physically or mentally challenged people .
4. Child protection to ensure the healthy and productive development of children.