Is a universal (or unconditional) basic income (UBI) an effective way for states to meet their social protection commitments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Is it a utopian vision within reach of only the richest countries, or as several pilot schemes have shown, a realistic option for developed and developing countries alike to reduce poverty and increase social justice? The Swiss popular vote on 5 June 2016 on the introduction of a UBI give UNRISD the opportunity to explore these issues with a panel of experts familiar with key experiences from countries in the Global North and the Global South.