New insights on poverty and vulnerability are triggering significant changes in government policy in South Asia. As a result, social protection interventions are emerging as a key policy element in across the region. Therefore, this review describes the most significant programmes in place in each of the South Asian countries. This review is also intended primarily for policy makers in South Asia, offering an accessible overview of regional experiences and practices. This study is a useful resource to academics, civil society groups and the UN family contributing to the evolving debates around re-defining social protection and assessing the performance of existing programmes.