Gender and shock responsiveness in social protection systems : lessons from Jordan

This article examines whether social protection systems that can respond to shocks have the ability to address gendered vulnerabilities in times of crisis. Focusing on the COVID-19 response in Jordan, the study draws on an integrated theoretical framework combining disaster risk management, feminist political economy, transformative social protection, and historical institutionalism. Using document analysis, institutional mapping, and semi-structured interviews it assesses the extent to which gender is mainstreamed in crisis response. The findings highlight how despite considerable administrative capacity and rapid crisis response and coordination, gender inequalities persist within institutional design and crisis governance. The analysis demonstrates that shock responsiveness and gender responsiveness do not automatically align without explicit institutional integration, and that system improvements aimed at increasing efficiency and responsiveness may inadvertently reproduce or deepen existing inequalities. The study contributes to the social protection and disaster risk management literature by showing how institutional fragmentation, path dependence, and gender dynamics affect the performance of the system during a crisis. Policy recommendations call for gendered finance, individualized rights, and reforms that move beyond reactive crisis management toward more transformative forms of social protection.