Growing older should never mean being left behind. Yet many older people face barriers that make it difficult to live with dignity, stay connected to their communities and meet their everyday needs.
When access to social protection, healthcare and other essential services is limited, and family support is not available, older people can be left with few options. But dignity is about more than material support. It is also about being seen and valued, remaining connected to others and having opportunities to contribute to their own wellbeing.
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mulu Ayal has experienced these challenges herself. Without adequate support, she struggled to meet her household’s basic needs. The Woreda Women, Children and Social Affairs Office recognised her situation and referred her to Dorcas Ethiopia, where she joined a programme for older people facing poverty and exclusion.
Essential support
Through the project, Mulu Ayal has received food, hygiene products and medical care, support her to manage everyday life and maintain her health and wellbeing over the past three years.
The project also enabled Mulu Ayal to build a more secure livelihood. After receiving basic business and entrepreneurship training, she was given start-up capital to launch a small home-based business selling traditional spices and dried food products.
The income she earns now helps cover household expenses and has brought greater stability to her life.
As part of Dorcas’ 2026 International Day of Older Persons campaign, ‘Seen and valued – rights and dignity of older people’, we are highlighting the rights, dignity and contributions of older people and the value they bring to their communities.
Photo above: Arendje visits a CSN partner in Ukraine, where volunteers help run a greenhouse that generates income for CSN, provides vegetables to older people and supplies a community kitchen.
Being part of a community matters. However, for older people living in poverty, experiencing isolation, or with limited access to support, maintaining connections with others and accessing services is an ongoing challenge.
Dorcas works with older people and their communities through Community Safety Nets in Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt. These locally anchored networks bring together people, organisations and services around older people, strengthening the support available within their own communities.
We asked Arendje Menkveld, CSN Expert at Dorcas, how these networks work in practice and what it means for older people to feel seen and valued in their own community.
Why is community support so important for older people?
‘Older people face different challenges: social isolation and loneliness, exclusion from community participation, limited access to services and support, and weak support networks. For some, loneliness and social isolation are linked to age-related factors, reduced mobility, disability, trauma or the loss of social connections. Some older people do not have anyone they can talk to about daily life and the issues they face, or anyone who can help with practical things. Others have no family, or no family members who are able to support them.
Poverty adds another challenge. Some older people have to make difficult choices about how to spend the little money they have. Do they buy medicines, pay for utilities or buy food?
Community-based support can take many forms. A volunteer might visit an older person regularly, or a neighbour might help them go to the shop or get food. There might be weekly or monthly gatherings where older people are expected and known. There, they can talk to others and take part in preparing food or other activities. Sometimes there is a warm meal at a community centre, or volunteers deliver a food parcel during the winter.’
Community-based support is important because the community includes you and the community sees you.’
That is where Community Safety Nets come in.
What is a Community Safety Net, and how does it work?
‘A Community Safety Net (CSN) is a locally anchored, community-driven support system that ensures older people in vulnerable circumstances can rely on sustained and dignified support within their own communities. A CSN is not a single service or organisation, but a network of actors who work together to prevent people from “falling through the cracks” by offering social, practical, psychosocial and sometimes material support. It complements, rather than replaces, government social protection and grows stronger as communities take ownership over time.
A CSN starts with an entry point in a community, usually a main actor who is motivated to make a difference for people living in vulnerable circumstances. This actor involves other community actors and members. Where possible, older people actively contribute their time and skills to the CSN project or community activities. This can give them a sense of purpose and responsibility, and help them feel part of the community again.
CSNs differ by country and context. A municipality might offer a meeting space, for example. Volunteers might raise funds or collect food. Schools might participate in food collection, with parents and others donating. Together, these community contributions shape the CSN. It becomes a structure that older people can rely on for support, attention and advice.’
In practice, this can look different from place to place.
What helps a Community Safety Net last?
‘Ideally, the implementing partner or main actor coordinates the support from other actors and the wider community. The different actors should meet regularly, agree on who does what and what the next steps are, and ensure that commitments are followed up. It is also important to involve authorities or a local authority representative in the coordination.
CSNs can look different depending on the context and the strengths of the actors involved.
If an organisation has a health background, health may be strongly represented. If there is a collaboration with a food bank, food collection may become part of the support. If there are strong connections with churches, volunteers may be involved in home visits. CSNs adapt to local strengths and assets.’
That local ownership also influences whether older people feel seen and valued within their communities.
What does it mean for older people to be seen and valued?
This year, Dorcas is marking the International Day of Older Persons with local celebrations and online awareness raising around the theme ‘Seen and valued – rights and dignity of older people’. The theme connects closely to the way Community Safety Nets aim to strengthen older people’s place in their own communities.
Arendje explains what this can look like in practice: ‘For me, being seen and valued means that older people are recognised in both big and small ways. An awareness campaign with flyers and presentations can help make their lives and experiences more visible, and remind others that they should be included, not ignored. Older people do not have to do something in order to be valued. At the same time, having a role and feeling useful can be meaningful.
For example, an older person might organise an activity, serve coffee, prepare the room, bake a cake or call someone who missed the activity. Being seen and valued is also expressed in how we speak with older people. Are we genuinely interested in them?
We should not decide what is good for them without listening to them first. We can also gently encourage some older people to share their experiences and skills with others, for example by talking to the younger generation in an intergenerational activity. That is what we want to convey in all community work.’
What can other organisations learn from Dorcas’s experience with Community Safety Nets?
‘Firstly, volunteers are a very relevant and important resource. They play a key role in Community Safety Nets because they help make support personal, practical and close to people’s daily lives. At the same time, when starting a CSN, it is important to take time to listen to older people and other community members, and ask how they can contribute. CSNs are not a quick fix. They need time to grow through relationships, trust and shared responsibility.
The Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach can help with this. It encourages communities to identify the people, skills, relationships and local resources that are already present, and to build on those strengths instead of starting with what is missing. This makes a CSN more rooted in the community and increases the chance that it will continue beyond the initial project.’
As part of Dorcas’ 2026 International Day of Older Persons campaign, ‘Seen and valued – rights and dignity of older people’, we are highlighting the rights, dignity and contributions of older people and the value they bring to their communities.
In Moldova, many older people are living on limited pensions, with reduced mobility and few opportunities to stay connected. For those living alone or with little family support, daily life can become quiet and isolated.
Elena, an older woman living alone in Moldova, knew this reality well. But through Dorcas’ Community Safety Nets (CSNs), her story began to change, showing how regular contact, community life and practical support can support older people to feel seen, valued and connected again.
A life with limited support
Elena, a pensioner in Moldova, knows what it means to have limited support around her. Living on a modest income, she lives alone and has no children. Relatives, including several nieces and nephews, visit only occasionally. A neighbour has become an important source of companionship, but before Elena joined the project, much of her daily life was marked by solitude.
Finding friendship and hope
Joining the CSN-project of Dorcas Moldova gave Elena new opportunities to connect with others. Alongside practical support, she received visits from project staff and took part in community celebrations and activities with other participants.
She remembers the moments that brought particular joy: Christmas gifts, financial support that helped her buy firewood for the winter, visits from project staff and community gatherings where she could spend time with others. For Elena, these moments were about more than practical support. They gave her a sense of connection and reminded her that she was not forgotten.
Through spending time with other participants, Elena formed new friendships. They shared experiences, spent time together and supported one another. Over almost 20 years of implementation in the community, the project has helped strengthen social connections among older people who might otherwise experience isolation.
Elena: ‘For me, this project does not only mean I support. It means that I am not forgotten. It means that someone, somewhere, thinks of me and reaches out a hand. The gifts, the visits, the kind words – they have all brought light into my soul. They made me feel joy and hope again.’
Growing older with dignity
Elena hopes to see wider change for pensioners in Moldova, including fairer pensions, decent living conditions and the opportunity to grow older in peace and dignity.
Elena’s story highlights that protecting the rights and dignity of older people also means ensuring they can participate in community life and maintain meaningful connections with others. Practical support matters, but so do regular visits, a sense of belonging and opportunities to stay connected. Being seen and valued means knowing that you still have a place in your community.
As part of Dorcas’ 2026 International Day of Older Persons campaign, ‘Seen and valued – rights and dignity of older people’, we are highlighting the rights, dignity and contributions of older people and the value they bring to their communities.
Today, the Dutch government led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten presented its budget for 2027. The budget contains good news for people around the world affected by extreme poverty, exclusion and violence. Over the next three years, the government will invest an additional €1.1 billion in international cooperation, on top of the extra funding set out in the coalition agreement. At a time of growing global inequality, this is a valuable step in the right direction.
Dorcas’ CEO Agnes Kroese comments: ‘Thanks to this additional investment, a quarter of the previous government’s budgetary cuts have been reversed. We very much welcome this decision, since funding for international cooperation and humanitarian assistance is being cut globally. Against this backdrop, every extra euro counts. However, the Netherlands is still far from achieving the international norm of allocating 0.7 per cent of gross national income to international cooperation. We therefore call on the government to set out a credible pathway towards reaching this norm. Investing in international cooperation is crucial, not only for reasons of compassion and solidarity, but also because our future is closely intertwined with that of people living elsewhere.
By investing in international cooperation, we contribute to global stability and security, economic opportunities for young people, resilient communities and a livable planet.’
The documents presented on Prinsjesdag (the Dutch government’s annual budget day) also show that €300 million is being allocated for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction support for Ukraine. Our colleagues in Ukraine witness the consequences of the conflict every day, particularly for people in vulnerable situations, such as older persons and children. We therefore support the additional funding for non-military assistance to Ukraine, especially with another cold winter approaching.
For Dorcas, it is essential that the additional funding reaches those living in vulnerable circumstances. We will therefore continue to closely monitor how these additional resources are allocated and spent.
Dorcas Romania has formalised a new collaboration with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Social Work Department, in Cluj-Napoca, strengthening cooperation between social work education and community-based practice.
During a recent visit by representatives of Dorcas International and Dorcas Romania, a formal collaboration protocol was signed in the context of the Bridge Between Generations initiative. The agreement creates opportunities for cooperation between academia and practice, including opportunities for future social workers to learn about community-based approaches.
A key part of the collaboration is the recognition of Dorcas Romania’s Community Safety Net (CSN) approach as a learning model for social work education. The CSN methodology will be introduced as part of the educational experience of Social Work students, who will also have the opportunity to choose CSN initiatives for practical studies and field placements.
This is an important milestone for Dorcas Romania. For the first time, the CSN approach will be systematically shared with future social work professionals through a university programme. Students will gain insight into the role of community ownership, social inclusion, volunteer engagement and local support networks in community-based social work.
The partnership also reflects Dorcas Romania’s commitment to building connections between communities, educational institutions and social service actors. By combining academic knowledge with practical experience, the collaboration aims to strengthen the quality and impact of social work in Romania while fostering greater solidarity between generations and within local communities.
Dorcas Romania looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology and its students, and to further exploring community-based approaches to social work.
Ecaterina has been part of a Dorcas programme in Moldova since 2018. She lives with her husband, one of her daughters and her granddaughter. Her daughter moved in with them after her husband passed away, while her other daughter lives with her own family.
Ecaterina manages household expenses on a pension, which is not always easy. Her husband continued to work occasionally after retirement, while Ecaterina worked as a cleaner at the church.
Starting something of their own
In 2018, Ecaterina became involved in a Dorcas income-generating activity (IGA) project.
‘We decided to start this small activity so that we could grow vegetables and herbs for our family, and sometimes sell some of what we produce,’ Ecaterina explains.
The project has become part of Ecaterina’s everyday life, alongside other activities she takes part in. She also receives food and hygiene products through the project.
‘I have felt a lot of support through this project. I take part in different activities, and I have wonderful opportunities to be useful to others. The greenhouse provides products for our family and gives us an opportunity to stay involved.’
The experience encouraged Ecaterina and her family to take the next step themselves.
‘We liked this activity so much that afterwards we decided to buy another greenhouse with the money we had saved,’ she says.
More than material support
For Ecaterina, the project is also a place where people come together. She has seen changes in how participants relate to one another.
‘People who are part of this project feel more encouraged, safer and socialise more.’
Looking ahead, Ecaterina hopes to stay healthy and continue caring for her family and their garden.
‘I pray that God will give us health, so that we can continue to work and take care of ourselves, our family and our garden.’
Ecaterina’s experience is one example of Dorcas’ wider work with older people. Through Community Safety Nets, Dorcas works with older people and their communities to strengthen social connections, improve access to support and create opportunities for older people to remain active and participate in community life.
As part of Dorcas’ 2026 International Day of Older Persons campaign, ‘Seen and valued – rights and dignity of older people’, we are highlighting the rights, dignity and contributions of older people and the value they bring to their communities.
Water scarcity is putting increasing pressure on market-oriented farmers across several Dorcas programme contexts. While some farmers have already invested in irrigation ponds, many ponds do not perform as expected. Water can be lost through evaporation, seepage or leakage, while poor design or maintenance can limit the agricultural value of the investment.
Dorcas has launched an innovation campaign to identify practical, trusted and scalable solutions that can support farmers to improve the performance and value of their existing irrigation ponds.
The focus is not on financing pond construction. Instead, we are looking for solutions that can support farmers to make better decisions, improve the performance of existing ponds and maximise the value of their investments.
The campaign builds on an innovation challenge identified during the sprint phase of the Dorcas 2.0 Water Pond innovation project. The first solutions will be piloted in Iraq, with potential to adapt and scale them in other Dorcas programme contexts, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Yemen.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for innovative solutions that go beyond traditional training and awareness raising. The focus is on the systems, services, tools and relationships that can support farmers to make better pond-related decisions and achieve better outcomes from their investments.
We are particularly interested in ideas that can:
- Improve pond performance by identifying and addressing causes of underperformance and reducing water losses.
- Support better decisions about pond use, maintenance, upgrading and investment.
- Provide practical knowledge that farmers can easily access, understand and apply.
- Strengthen access to trusted technical and business support, including credible local service providers and experts.
- Strengthen farmer-to-farmer learning so farmers can learn from both successful and unsuccessful pond investments.
- Use innovative tools and approaches, including digital technologies, artificial intelligence, remote sensing and decision-support tools.
- Build partnerships between farmers, government, private sector, community actors and research institutions.
- Develop sustainable support and business models that can operate without continued Dorcas funding.
Strong ideas should be practical, realistic and scalable. We are interested not only in what farmers need to know, but in the systems and services that enable them to consistently make better pond-related decisions and improve the value of their investments.
Share your idea
Do you have a practical solution that could support farmers to get greater value from existing irrigation ponds? We invite you to share your idea through the Dorcas Water Pond 2.0 Innovation Campaign.
Submit your idea through the Dorcas Water Pond 2.0 Innovation Campaign
Rural communities in Africa and the Middle East that rely on agriculture for their livelihoods are increasingly affected by food insecurity as a result of a changing climate. A failed harvest following drought or flooding can directly affect people’s access to food. Dorcas works alongside farmers in these regions to strengthen their ability to adapt to increasingly extreme weather conditions and protect their livelihoods.
Climate change and agricultural resilience
Farmers face the challenge of preventing fertile topsoil from being washed away during floods, while also finding ways to capture and store water to withstand periods of drought. Some current agricultural practices make communities more vulnerable to climate change and contribute to soil degradation, including overgrazing, unsustainable land-clearing practices and monocropping.
Dorcas supports farmers in adopting sustainable farming techniques that are better suited to changing climate conditions, minimise soil degradation and help restore the land. Many of these approaches are rooted in agricultural knowledge and practices that have long existed within African and Middle Eastern communities.
Danielle Maroma, Climate Adaptation Expert at Dorcas, elaborates: ‘Climate adaptation is often framed as bringing new solutions to communities. In reality, some of the most effective solutions can be found within communities themselves. Our role is to support farmers in strengthening, adapting and scaling up practices that have been shaped by generations of experience.’
Over time, the use and transmission of some of these practices have been disrupted for many different reasons. A growing focus on efficiency and optimisation encouraged a move away from agricultural diversity towards systems that produce fewer crops, often cash crops grown for sale. In some contexts, colonial policies also disrupted traditional agricultural practices, as land and natural resources were increasingly managed for economic exploitation. In addition, migration from rural to urban areas has changed how agricultural knowledge is passed down between generations.
Reconnecting with traditional practices
Dorcas works with farmers to strengthen and adapt agricultural practices rooted in local knowledge systems and increasingly recognised as valuable approaches to climate adaptation.
One example is agroforestry: a farming approach in which trees and crops grow together in the same space. Trees provide fruit, shade and other benefits, while their roots help protect and stabilise the soil.
Another practice is intercropping, in which different crop species are grown together to support soil health. One approach to maintaining nutrient-rich farmland is to combine crops with legumes, which fix nitrogen in the soil.
The transition towards climate-adaptive agriculture has already shown promising results. In 2024, farmers in Dorcas programmes increased their yields by up to 30 per cent using Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) and climate-smart practices, while also improving soil quality. Practices such as agroforestry can contribute to these efforts by supporting agricultural productivity while also helping to restore greener landscapes.
Through the scaling up of Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) in Tanzania and Ethiopia, farmers are transforming their farms into more diverse systems that offer greater economic stability and climate resilience. In early 2025, Dorcas launched a three-year PIP project in Upper Egypt. This was one of the first applications of the approach in North Africa and the Middle East, where farming communities face water scarcity and land degradation.
Climate change is creating new challenges for farming communities, but responding to them does not always require entirely new solutions. Some valuable agricultural practices have long been part of local knowledge systems, even though their use and transmission have changed over time.
Dorcas works alongside farmers and supports them to adapt agricultural practices to today’s climate realities. By combining traditional knowledge with new insights and approaches, farmers can strengthen the resilience of their land and livelihoods and build more sustainable ways of farming for the future.
In Debre Birhan, in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, thousands of people have arrived after fleeing violence and insecurity in East Wollega, Horo Guduru Wollega, West Wollega, West Shewa and surrounding areas. These areas have experienced prolonged insecurity linked to armed conflict, intercommunal tensions and local disputes, forcing many families to leave their homes in search of safety. The town already hosts many internally displaced people and has become an important place of refuge because of its relative safety and access to basic services. As more families arrive, pressure on shelters, services and host communities is increasing rapidly.
In June and July 2026 alone, more than 1,000 displaced households arrived in Debre Birhan. With existing sites overcrowded, many families are living in unfinished buildings and temporary structures, with limited access to adequate shelter, clean water, sanitation, health services and privacy. A rapid needs assessment by Dorcas Ethiopia highlighted critical gaps in food security, shelter and non-food items, health, WASH and protection. Those facing the greatest risks include women, children, older people, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses.
Dorcas is therefore launching an emergency response from 1 August to 31 October 2026 to support 500 newly arrived displaced households, reaching more than 2,500 people. During this three-month period, the project will combine immediate cash assistance with protection support, enabling families to meet urgent needs while strengthening their safety, dignity and wellbeing.
Cash assistance
Through multipurpose cash assistance, households will receive direct financial support so they can prioritise what they need most. This may include food, hygiene items, essential household goods, temporary shelter materials, health related costs or other expenses. Because local markets in Debre Birhan are still functioning, cash assistance offers a fast, flexible and dignified way for families to make their own decisions while also contributing to the local economy.
Protection
Alongside cash assistance, Dorcas will work to promote the safety, dignity and wellbeing of people affected by displacement, paying particular attention to those with specific protection concerns. This may include survivors of gender-based violence, children at risk, older people, people with disabilities, or others in need of specialised support. When such concerns are identified, staff will refer individuals to appropriate services available in the area so they can access the support they need.
Local presence and coordination
With an established presence in Ethiopia, Dorcas is well placed to respond quickly. Dorcas Ethiopia works through its country office and project offices, with local colleagues who understand the context, communities and coordination structures.
The project will be implemented in close coordination with local authorities and relevant government offices, those managing displacement sites, financial service providers, IDP and host community representatives and humanitarian partners.
With experience in humanitarian assistance, Dorcas brings practical capacity and technical expertise to this emergency. The aim is not only to act quickly, but to do so in a way that is accountable, inclusive and rooted in the realities of the communities we serve.
Protecting those in need in humanitarian and development work is complex and multifaceted. At its heart, protection is about safeguarding people and preventing, reducing, and responding to harm. Although protection is often associated with the risk of harm or abuse or with responding to violence or abuse after it has happened, this is only part of the picture.
In humanitarian and development contexts, protection is about safeguarding people from threats that affect their safety, dignity, rights and wellbeing. These threats may include violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, discrimination, exclusion, or other forms of harm that prevent people from living safely and with dignity.
Responding to risk of harm is essential, but it is just one element of a much broader approach. Effective protection also involves preventing and anticipating potential harm, supporting recovery, and addressing the underlying causes that put people at risk. This article explores the four dimensions of protection and explains how they work together in practice. These dimensions can apply across different contexts, including conflict, displacement, natural disasters, poverty, exclusion and other situations where people may face increased vulnerability.
Looking through a protection lens
Protection is not a single activity or intervention. It is a way of working that helps humanitarian and development organisations recognise risks, reduce harm, and strengthen the conditions that enable people to live – or in certain cases to migrate or evacuate – safely. It means looking beyond the immediate task to understand whether someone may be at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, or exclusion.
Pamela Hajal, Humanitarian Assistance and Protection Expert at Dorcas, describes this as putting on a pair of ‘protection glasses’. With these glasses on, staff focus not only on delivering project activities. They are also trained to recognise protection risks and respond appropriately.
Pamela explains:
‘For example, Dorcas Ukraine staff may be repairing damaged houses near the front line. They arrive at a home to replace broken windows and notice that the woman living there has visible bruising and a broken wrist. With your ‘protection glasses’ on, you wouldn’t just repair the windows and leave. You would recognise that she may need protection support and take the appropriate steps to assist her.’
This example illustrates how protection goes beyond delivering services. It is about recognising when people are at risk and ensuring they receive the support they need. To guide this work, Dorcas uses four interconnected dimensions of protection: preventive, responsive, promotive and remedial, and transformative protection.
Preventive protection
Preventive protection aims to reduce the likelihood of harm before it occurs. This means identifying risks, reducing people’s exposure to threats, and addressing the factors that make their circumstances more vulnerable. Prevention is about creating environments where people’s rights are respected and where violence, exploitation, abuse, and exclusion are less likely to occur. Rather than focusing only on preventing individual incidents, it also considers the wider conditions that influence people’s safety.
For example, preventive protection can involve strengthening community awareness, social connections and access to support before harm occurs. This may include identifying people at risk of isolation or exclusion and creating opportunities for participation and support.
Responsive protection
Responsive protection focuses on stopping harm that is already happening or has recently occurred. It includes actions taken when people experience violence, abuse, exclusion or other protection violations. The priority is to support people to reach safety and access appropriate support as quickly as possible. This may include referrals to healthcare, legal assistance, psychosocial support or other specialised services.
Responsive protection also includes supporting people who experience the psychological and social effects of crises. For example, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, many Ukrainians have experienced increased anxiety and worsened psychological wellbeing. Nadiia is one of them. After her husband passed away and her grandson left to defend the country, she was overcome with fear and needed support. With the MHPSS support she received from Dorcas Ukraine, Nadiia was able to regain her sense of security.
Although this is often the most visible aspect of protection work, it is only one part of a wider system that also includes prevention, recovery, and long-term change.
Promotive protection
Promotive and remedial protection focuses on supporting people to recover from harm and rebuild their lives. It addresses the consequences of past or ongoing violations by supporting individuals and communities through healthcare, psychosocial support and other essential services.
This dimension recognises that protection does not end when the immediate danger has passed. Recovery also means restoring people’s wellbeing, relationships, dignity, and sense of safety.
For example, Maria (78) lives in rural Tanzania and is solely responsible for caring for her seven-year-old granddaughter, Queenie. For years, they faced significant challenges. Since joining the Community Safety Net programme of Dorcas Tanzania, Maria has gained access to support that has strengthened her wellbeing, resilience and ability to care for her granddaughter.
Through the programme, Maria received essential items, support from volunteers with household tasks, and opportunities to connect with other older people in her community. Taking part in activities at a local older people’s centre helped reduce isolation, strengthen social connections and restore her sense of belonging. Maria’s story illustrates how promotive and remedial protection supports people not only after harm has occurred, but also in rebuilding dignity, confidence and resilience.
Transformative protection
Transformative protection focuses on addressing the root causes of protection risks. Rather than responding to individual cases alone, it seeks to change the structural, social, and institutional factors that allow harm to continue. This may involve advocacy, changing harmful social norms, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and supporting systems that promote equal rights and reduce exclusion over the long term.
Transformative protection therefore operates at the level of communities, institutions, and society as a whole. For example, advocating for stronger child protection legislation can reduce protection risks for future generations.
How the four dimensions work together
The four dimensions of protection are closely connected. They are not separate stages or a fixed sequence. In practice, several dimensions often come together within a single programme or intervention.
For example, raising community awareness can help prevent future harm, enable earlier identification of protection risks, and contribute to longer-term changes in attitudes and behaviour.
The examples of Nadiia and Maria show how protection can address different forms of harm and vulnerability. While Nadiia received responsive support after experiencing the effects of conflict and loss, Maria’s support focused on rebuilding wellbeing, dignity and inclusion. Both demonstrate that effective protection requires understanding people’s specific circumstances and responding in ways that address both immediate needs and longer-term wellbeing.
Understanding protection in this way shifts the focus from individual activities to a coordinated system of action that addresses risks at different levels. Ultimately, effective protection depends on how these four dimensions reinforce one another. Together, they enable protection to address both immediate needs and long-term change, supporting individuals while also strengthening the systems and communities around them.