Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Rural populations in Europe and Central Asia are vulnerable to environmental degradation, natural disasters and climate change, exacerbated by the lack of decent employment opportunities. Nearly half of the rural population does not receive any social protection benefits despite the region’s inherited legacy. Rural women, often working as contributing family members, face greater challenges in accessing social protection, maternity rights and pension benefits due to informal employment and limited access to resources, including digital knowledge and tools.

FAO's work in the region aims to improve the coverage, adequacy and comprehensiveness of social protection of rural populations , for reducing rural poverty, food insecurity and gender inequalities, and building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

Countries

Armenia

Türkiye

Publications

Improving social protection for rural populations in Europe and Central Asia: Priorities for FAO

09/04/2025

This report highlights the gaps and barriers in social protection across Europe and Central Asia. It examines how social protection programs should be designed and funded to support more inclusive rural transformation, improve nutrition, empower women, and address issues like child labor. It also emphasizes the need to expand the coverage, adequacy, and comprehensiveness of social protection for rural populations.

Combining cash transfers, productive assets and inputs distribution with agricultural and nutrition trainings for vulnerable rural households in Lori and Shirak regions

27/06/2024

The fifth issue of the social protection and resilience factsheets analyses the nutrition-sensitive cash+ pilot implemented in Armenia to support over 800 people living in remote rural areas. FAO enhanced the impact of the cash assistance provided by the government's family benefits scheme with agricultural inputs and comprehensive training.

How can FAO assist in improving social protection for rural communities in Europe and Central Asia? Policy brief

01/11/2022

Feature story- Integrating social protection and agriculture to improve diets in Kyrgyzstan

08/04/2021

The Cash+ experience from Kyrgyzstan has vividly demonstrated how integrated measures could support and empower the most vulnerable and thus contribute to accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Social Protection