SOCIAL PROTECTION IN THE CONTEXT OF HIV AND AIDS – 155 PROMOTING PRO-POOR GROWTH: SOCIAL PROTECTION- © OECD 2009 Social Protection in the Context of HIV and AIDS

Each bout of illness presents a range of negative economic consequences for households and loss of productivity for the sectors in which the sick and their caregivers are invol.ved. The poorest households are most likely to resort to non-reversible coping strategies including the sale of land or livestock or withdrawal of children from school. “AIDS-sensitive ” rather than “AIDS-specific ” social protection instruments, including cash transfers, protect vulnerable households from the impoverishing effects of HIV and AIDS, while potentially encouraging pro-poor growth. Transformative social protection supports the promise to realise the rights of women and girls. Social protection instruments that incorporate a transformative agenda may empower women to access their rights and entitlements in terms of inheritance, education and labour market access, both protecting and mitigating against HIV and AIDS. Why are HIV and AIDS important in the context of pro-poor growth? HIV and AIDS are a serious constraint to growth in sub-Saharan Africa