Can social protection contribute to social connectedness in contexts of forced displacement and crisis? Lessons from Jordan’s labelled cash transfer for education

Abstract

Social protection programming can help address gender- and lifecycle-specific vulnerabilities, particularly in humanitarian contexts. Although adolescents are disproportionately affected by crises, there remains limited evidence about how such programming can mitigate risks they face, including social isolation. This article explores how a ‘cash-plus’ social protection response enhances refugee adolescents’ social connectedness and contributes to broader social cohesion and sustainable peace.

Mixed-methods data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic with 996 Syrian adolescents living in Jordanian host communities involved beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of Hajati, UNICEF’s unconditional cash transfer. Explicitly labelled to promote adolescent education, Hajati also encourages enrolment in an adolescent empowerment programme, Makani (My Space), designed to foster resilience and social connectedness.

Survey results were mixed, finding evidence of modest improvements among beneficiaries on a subset of social connectedness and resilience outcomes. Hajati beneficiaries (particularly girls and older adolescents, aged 15–18) report higher levels of family support and better coping with pandemic stressors. Among younger adolescents (12–14) and girls, beneficiaries were more likely to report having a trusted adult, and greater social support from non-family adults. Beneficiary status was not associated with measures of peer connectedness or perceived social cohesion. Qualitative interview findings, however, indicate beneficiaries enjoy stronger peer networks, partly due to participating in group-based programming. Overall, programme participation helped girls (and, less so, boys) cope with pandemic stressors, while strengthening adolescent social connectedness through opportunities for in-person and online interaction.

We conclude with suggestions on how to strengthen programming to promote social cohesion and sustainable peace.