Global progress toward the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDGs 1–5 (poverty, hunger, health, education, and gender equality)—has been slowed by intersecting crises such as COVID-19, conflict, and climate change. While much is known about cash transfers, there is limited evidence on other social transfer modalities like vouchers and in-kind assistance, especially in relation to vulnerable groups defined by gender, age, or disability. To address this gap, the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition’s People Pillar, co-chaired by UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA, WFP, and UNESCO, commissioned a synthesis of existing evidence.

To address persistent gaps between evidence and action in implementing the SDGs, UNICEF, on behalf of the People Pillar co-chairs, commissioned the Center for Evaluation and Development (C4ED) to develop a synthesis on the implementation and effectiveness of social assistance interventions aimed at reaching the furthest behind. The evaluation focuses on social protection as a critical entry point, particularly where evidence on implementation remains scarce, and emphasizes the principle of “Leaving No One Behind (LNOB)” to examine who is excluded and why. C4ED proposed concentrating on specific social assistance interventions—namely vouchersand in-kind transfers—which often represent the first institutionalized layer of protection in low- and middle-income countries. These interventions were assessed for their effectiveness, impacts, barriers, facilitators, and implementation features, with particular attention to gender-, age-, and disability-responsive design. The synthesis also considered outcomes linked to SDGs 1–5, including health, education, living standards and consumption, gender equality, and empowerment, while highlighting practical lessons for future programming.

What methods will be employed?

The study employed a mixed-methods synthesis, drawing on peer-reviewed impact evaluations and process and performance evaluations from UN agencies. It analyzed how vouchers and in-kind transfers are designed, implemented, and sustained, while also applying concepts from Implementation Science (IS), in understanding how evidence-based interventions are applied and sustained in real-world settings.