Chapter 1: Social Protection for All: Opportunities and Challenges for Inclusive Societies in the Middle East and North Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant deficiencies within social protection systems worldwide, especially in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. This underscores the urgent need to fortify these social protection schemes to ensure resilience in the face of crises (Saoudi & Sarbib, 2023). Robust social safety nets played a pivotal role in mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, emphasizing the importance of well-established mechanisms in supporting vulnerable populations during times of turmoil. This highlights the imperative for nations to cultivate and enhance their social protection systems, and to ensure they are capable of effectively safeguarding citizens amidst crises, thereby promoting resilience and facilitating equitable economic development (IMF, 2022).