Social Protection Policies and Programmes

Poverty affects both the quality and length of children’s lives, reduces the ability of families to adequately provide for their children, and is a significant cause of family breakdown and child separation. Social assistance programmes aim to reduce child poverty and act as a safety net for families with minimal resources.

Such programmes include in-kind and in-cash transfers, and food for work initiatives. Social assistance programmes are a part of social welfare and must include clear child care policies that protect children and strengthen family and community capacities to access services and provide care.

Cash transfers are a means of financially supporting the most vulnerable households to improve the child’s access to essential goods and services, such as health and education. They include the use of child support grants, child and family allowances and targeted and conditional cash transfers. They may be combined with investment in child education and health services, and redistributive tax policies.

In-kind transfers provide access to essential goods and services instead of cash payments. Conditional cash transfers provide money to poor families on achieving certain actions, such as sending children to school.

Social assistance programmes may struggle to target those most in need, and provide sustainable support. Economic policies, including social assistance, and household economic strengthening, require substantial research, monitoring, and gatekeeping to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable are reached and that long term benefits can be achieved for families, including child headed households.

The literature in this section provides country examples and analyses of social assistance programs, focusing primarily on cash transfer schemes.

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Community Opportunity Map

Casey Family Programs, 2018

The Community Opportunity Map is a tool that allows users to see localized indicators connected to community health and maltreatment prevention.

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A Case for Investing in HIV-Sensitive Social Services for Vulnerable Children in Nigeria

Shar Kurtishi, David Akpan, Tapfuma Murove, Kelley Bunkers, & Doreen Magaji - Journal of Poverty, Investment and Development , 2018

A desk review was conducted to examine the current gaps in investment related to care and treatment for children living with or affected by HIV.

Decent Work and Social Protection For Young People Leaving Care: Gaps and Responses in 12 Countries Worldwide

SOS Children's Villages International, 2018

The aim of this report from SOS Children's Villages is to increase the knowledge and understanding of the needs and rights of young people ageing out of alternative care around the world, in order to inform strategies, policies and services to improve their life chances and outcomes through appropriate preparation for leaving care as well as after-care support.

Challenges Affecting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) in Embu County

Dorcas Nthenya Mutiso & Dr. Pius Mutuku Mutie - International Journal of Sociology, 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the challenges affecting orphans and vulnerable children (OVCS) in Embu County.

Promoting Early Childhood Development Through Combining Cash Transfer and Parenting Programs

Ana-Maria Arriagada, Jonathan Perry, Laura Rawlings, Julieta Trias, and Melissa Zumaeta - World Bank Group, 2018

This note and the accompanying full technical paper examine the existing evidence and the potential for bringing together cash transfer programs and parenting interventions to improve child development outcomes, notably cognitive performance.

Social Service Systems for Vulnerable Children and Families in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Establishing definitions and key components

Thomas M. Crea, Andrew D. Reynolds, Kelley McCreery Bunkers, Caroline M. Bishop - International Journal of Social Welfare, 21 Dec 2017

This study has reviewed existing literature on the definitions and components of social service systems and provides an analysis of data from key informants in the field of global social welfare.

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Social protection is a grassroots reality: Making the case for policy reflections on community-based social protection actors and services in Africa

Nicholas Awortwi - Development Policy Review, 20 Dec 2017

Based on empirical studies in 30 districts in six African countries, this paper makes the case that the highly localized models may not be perfect but are probably the best fit for implementing an all-encompassing Social Protection policy in Africa.

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Factors Influencing Civil Registration of Household in Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme in Karaba Location, Mbeere South Sub-County

Miako Grace Nyawira & Dr. John M. Wanjohi - International Academic Journal of Information Sciences and Project Management , 20 Nov 2017

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of cash transfer for orphans and vulnerable children programme on civil registration in Karaba Location of Mbeere South Subcounty. The study sought to determine how demographic characteristics of the caregivers, challenges faced by caregivers, household priorities of caregivers and household size affect civil registration.

The SAGE Handbook of Early Childhood Policy

Linda Miller, Claire Cameron, Carmen Dalli, Nancy Barbour - SAGE Publishing, 01 Nov 2017

This Handbook explores early childhood interventions and policy through 36 chapters in various country contexts, including chapters on early childhood services for children in care.

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How wealthy are orphans and vulnerable children households in a metropolitan community, South-West Nigeria?

Oyindamola B Yusuf, Temitayo Odusote, Olusanmi Iyabode, Joanna Nwosu, Tessie Phillips–Ononye, Ayo S Adebowale, Elijah A Bamgboye - African Population Studies, 01 Nov 2017

This study determined the socio-economic status of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in relation to service areas in Lagos Nigeria.