The countries in Central Asia all have social protection systems in place, though the relevance, focus and mix of instruments varies. It provides a forum for the assessment of development risks (especially around the interplay of vulnerability to natural disasters with potential political conflict, with respect to water, energy and ethnicity) and for improving coordination around the development/humanitarian nexus. This paper aims to contribute to the discussion on social policy effectiveness, particularly in terms of mitigating the impact of high food and energy prices on vulnerable households.