worldbank.org (24.09.2025) In the Sahel, vulnerability, poverty, competition over natural resources, and limited economic opportunities have weakened social bonds and fueled conflict, dynamics further exacerbated by climate change. Within this context, social protection emerges as a key tool to strengthen social cohesion by fostering institutional trust, community cooperation, and the relationship between citizens and the state. However, evidence on its impacts in the region remains limited and fragmented, particularly regarding different dimensions of cohesion (intra- and inter-community, as well as citizen–state relations). To address these gaps, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the World Food Programme are jointly implementing a research project that combines quantitative and qualitative methods to identify the causal links between social protection and social cohesion, while analyzing program design, implementation, and contextual factors that shape these outcomes in the Sahel.