Social protection has emerged as a key development priority and an important target for ending poverty. It has gained particular momentum following the recent global financial and food crises, as well as the growing awareness of poor people's vulnerability to climate-related disasters. Interest in social protection continues to expand as policymakers strive to secure hard-earned human development gains and tackle increasing levels of inequality, which often threatens social and political stability. However, the discussion has focused less on how social protection can be best conceptualised and implemented in a decentralised context, specifically by local governments. Electronic transfers to people in rural areas used to be unthinkable due to the non-presence of banks, challenges with electricity and difficult accessibility. Whilst these latest developments have created interesting opportunities for social transfer beneficiaries, financial inclusion is still not a reality in many countries.