As donor aid is shrinking, the importance of social protection is growing, with more focus on how the most vulnerable members of communities can survive. The purpose of this research is to analyse how humanitarian aid-based social protection interacts with community-based social protection, and the conflict sensitivity risks involved. The CSRF team conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives of I/NGOs, community, local authority, church, traders, among others in three locations, namely Lafon, Pibor and Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG) – Aweil East, Aweil South and Aweil West. In total, 240 people participated in the research, including 27 KIIs and 24 FGDs. The research finds that although there is no agreed upon definition of social protection, it is broadly understood as the steps taken to care for the most vulnerable members of the community in times of crises or shocks. Also, the research found that social protection in the study locations is under strain due to the combination of factors, including dwindling aid, influx of returnees and refugees and economic and climate-induced food insecurity. This research report contributes to a better understanding of the interaction between aid-based social protection and community based social protection amid dwindling aid. Based on the findings, the report serves as a basis for further research on the interaction of social protection and conflict sensitivity. It also provides key insights, including relevant recommendations for policy makers and practitioners in the fields of food security, social protection, livelihood support and conflict sensitive aid.