For whom the social registry tolls

In an era marked by increasing climate-related crises and economic shocks, the need for robust social protection systems has never been more urgent. Despite challenges like limited fiscal capacity, many nations have made significant strides in expanding coverage and enhancing the efficiency of their delivery systems. Central to these advancements are social registries, which play a crucial role in supporting regular programs and responding effectively in times of emergency. The stories of Celina and Adriana in Brazil, and Maria in Peru, discussed below, illustrate its role in safeguarding vulnerable populations; nevertheless, we argue against some recent views that its role in times of emergency isn’t defined by its size, but by its flexibility and dynamism.

Rethinking Coverage and Flexibility

Celina, who lost her job and became homeless before the COVID-19 pandemic, was able to access Brazil's social registry, Cadastro Único. This registry, covering about 40% of the population, is always open for new enrollments and updates, ensuring robust data quality control. Through Cadastro Único, Celina received support from various programs, including Bolsa Família and pandemic relief programs. In contrast, Adriana, a middle-class citizen, had no access to social assistance before the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul. When she became displaced, she registered in Cadastro Único and was promptly enrolled in the Programa Volta por Cima. These stories highlight the registry's capacity for rapid response and adaptability in the face of shocks.

In Peru, Maria, already included in the social registry covering over 70% of the population, received timely emergency support during the pandemic, facilitated by her prior registration. These examples reflect a broader challenge: how large should a country's social registry be to effectively support people in both normal times and during crises?

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

The recent World Bank technical note State of the Art of Social Registries in Latin America and the Caribbean reveals that while 52 countries in the world have established social registries, coverage rates vary significantly. The Latin America and Caribbean and Middle East and North Africa regions have averages of 45%, compared to 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa. But the note highlighted that in most cases, these registries remain static, lacking the dynamism needed to sustain their function as effective gateways to social policy. Static registries, where information needed is obtained as periodic data collection exercises, may prove ineffective in responding to shocks, as information rapidly becomes obsolete. In fact, maintaining large, static registries incurs significant costs, and if major shocks are infrequent, the investment may deliver limited value. Additionally, when individuals share personal data but have little hope of accessing benefits, public trust may erode, further undermining system effectiveness.

Flexible and dynamic Social Registries for Multiple Programs

Countries like Chile and Brazil offer more than 25 programs targeting various groups, including the poor, vulnerable groups, and segments of the middle class. Their registries function as entry points for improving the well-being of the population. Their dynamic updating of information processes, strong data protection controls, and intersectoral coordination enable tailored benefits and services and quick shock response.

Conversely, static systems with a large or limited program coverage can result in outdated information during shocks, necessitating additional data work and verification protocols, which may delay assistance for months.

Social registries should be viewed as dynamic systems that facilitate access to a wide range of programs. The registration process forms the essential interface with registrants and applicants. The 2020 World Bank Sourcebook recommends multiple channels for registration, ensuring the process is dignified, inclusive, and user-friendly. Continuous outreach and communication are imperative for maintaining updated information and safeguarding data privacy. Effective cross-sectoral coordination across health, education, and labor markets enhances the registry’s functionality, enabling timely and accurate support. That said, flexible ones with lean and dynamic processes that can expand rapidly when required are more adaptable to emerging risks.

Fit-for-Purpose Systems

Broader coverage may be desirable, but expanding coverage may entail opportunity costs and divert resources from other critical priorities. Countries must critically assess whether their registries are fit-for-purpose by asking key questions: Is the registry regularly updated? Is it integrated with other systems? Does it serve multiple programs? Are strong data protections in place? Frequently, the answer is “no,” as many registries suffer from limited outreach, static enrollment, under-resourced staff, fragmented coordination, and poor interoperability.

Rather than pursuing scale for its own sake, countries should clarify policy goals and define the purpose of the registry—whether to support regular social assistance, emergency relief, or both. This entails investing in the foundational elements of delivery—outreach, intake, registration, case management, and grievance redress—to ensure data quality, as well as enhancing cross-sectoral coordination and digital infrastructure to improve interoperability and adaptive capacity.

In an era marked by increasing complexity and volatility, the most successful systems are not necessarily the largest, but those that exhibit the greatest flexibility, dynamism, and agility. Achieving universal social protection and enabling timely responses to shocks requires pragmatic investment in people-centered and well-coordinated delivery systems. Social registries, when actively maintained and used in conjunction with robust policy frameworks, have the potential to transform lives and reinforce societal resilience.

Building social protection systems should focus on purposeful, dynamic, and adaptive ones—capable of safeguarding our communities both in times of stability and during crises. In this world of constant change, it’s not the biggest system that succeeds, but the most flexible, dynamic, and agile.

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This blog was prepared by Phillippe Leite, Senior Social Protection Economist at the World Bank, and Luis Henrique Paiva, Senior Social Protection Specialist at the UNDP Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the World Bank Group, its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent, and to the UNDP, its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent.