Abstract
Social protection in the form of cash transfers to reduce poverty and inequality is described as the " big idea " that emerged in the Global South over the past three decades. This article reflects on the direction that social protection is taking and reviews its achievements. A key challenge is how social protection policies are delinked from a wider system of social welfare and development programs in low-and middle-income countries. Drawing on lessons learned from crosscountry studies, pointers are provided on how to overcome this bifurcation, including ways of strengthening social development theory, policy, and practice.