The national laws and policies do not clearly indicate whether refugees are eligible for social assistance. The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) of Ethiopia, introduced in 2012, and the National Social Protection Strategy, introduced in 2016, provide the policy framework for social protection in Ethiopia. The NSPP prioritizes basic level of assistance to persons with specific needs, including disabilities and persons with mental health challenges and older persons without care and support. The NSPP does not explicitly exclude refugees. However, as per the FDRE Constitution, under article 90, the State provides social security to the extent that the country’s resources permit. As such, the extent of access to social assistance is not clear either for national or for refugees.

In Ethiopia, the Social Safety Net focus area aims to strengthen and expand social protection programs to cover vulnerable individuals and households. This includes expanding social insurance programs, implementing food security initiatives, providing basic social services like health and education, establishing a national nutrition program, supporting vulnerable children, and enhancing assistance for persons with disabilities and older persons. The main targeted non-contributory programs that offer support to impoverished households are the SafetyNet programs. The Urban Productive Safety Net Program (UPSNP) that was launched in 2016 had successfully been implemented in 11 cities. The UPSNP was replaced by the Urban Productive Safety Net and Job Project (UPSNJP) in 2021.  The UPSNJP has introduced new elements such as the Refugee and Host Integration Through the SafetyNet (RHISN), which is the sub-component of the UPSNJP, that has extended the safety net program and livelihood opportunities to refugees. RHISN, Phase-I successfully reached 2,239 refugee and host households (of which 949 are refugees) in Somali Region, and Phase-II aims to benefit 8,544 refugee households across the Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, Afar, Somali, and Amhara regional states. In addition to its economic objectives, RHISN also funds selected social cohesion activities, promoting harmony and integration among communities.