The Effectiveness of the Social Protection Program in Addressing Poverty in the Holy City of Karbala

Abstract

The study aims to identify the living conditions of families benefiting from the social protection program and to examine the extent of its contribution to improving their economic and social circumstances. The study adopted an ethnographic approach, drawing on direct observation, field immersion, and open-ended, in-depth interviews with members of the study population. The study sample consisted of (60) poor families distributed across four different areas in the holy city of Karbala. The results showed that the majority of the sample members had primary-level educational attainment, and that family size generally ranged between (5–7) members, increasing their living burdens compared with the amount of assistance provided. It was also found that most families had been covered by the program since (2015–2019), and that the majority of beneficiaries lived in rented housing, while the monthly assistance was insufficient to cover basic needs, as it covered living expenses for only (10–14) days. The results also showed a high rate of unemployment among beneficiaries, and that (53%) of them were not covered by the benefits, indicating the program's limited impact on improving living standards and addressing poverty.