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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Child-sensitive social protection in DRC: A diagnostic study

Sarah Bailey, Paola Pereznieto and Nicola Jones with Bavon Mupenda, Grazia Pacillo and Mathieu Tromme - Overseas Development Institute, 01 May 2011

This study analyzed the current social protection environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and examined the “vulnerabilities and risks facing children living in poverty in Kinshasa, Bas Congo and Katanga provinces.”

Moldova Law No. 123 On Social Services

Government of Republic of Moldova, 03 Mar 2011

Republic of Moldova, Parliament, Law No. 123 on Social Services entered into force 3 March 2011.

Urwaruka Rushasha (New Generation): Improving the wellbeing of vulnerable children in Burundi

Bundervoet, Annan & Armstrong - International Rescue Committee, 2011

This brief presents the results of the mid-term evaluation of the New Generation project - a three-year project comprised of two components: 1) A VSLA intervention involving the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and th

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Cartographie et Analyse des Systemes de Protection de L’Enfance au Senegal

Child Frontiers, Ltd.; Ministère de la Famille, des Groupements Féminins et de la Protection de l’Enfance; Ministère de la Justice & Cellule d’Appui à la Protection de l’Enfance, 2011

Cette cartographie et analyse du système de protection de l’enfance au Sénégal fait partie d’une initiative régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et centrale soutenue de manière technique et matérielle par un groupe régional de référence composé de Plan International, Save the Children Suède, Save the Children Finlande et l’UNICEF.

Children without Appropriate Care: Participant Manual for Asia and the Pacific

Louise Melville Fulford, 31 Dec 2010

This manual offers a training session targeted at policy makers, professionals and paraprofessionals who are already working on programs to support children without appropriate care, or who may begin work in this area. This workshop focuses on children in developing contexts, who require support within their families and those who need an alternative care placement.

HIV - Sensitive Social Protection: What Does the Evidence Say?

UNAIDS, 30 Dec 2010

Shows how HIV-sensitive social protection can reduce vulnerability to HIV infection, improve and extend the lives of people living with HIV, and support individuals and households. While not specific to children, the paper includes sections on HIV and Child Protection and HIV and Early Childhood Development.

Situation Analysis and Recommendations: Dampier Peninsula Indigenous Parenting Support Services

Save the Children, Australia, 01 Dec 2010

This report, published by Save the Children Australia, analyzes the situation of the parenting support services for Indigenous communities in the Dampier Peninsula of Australia.

After the Earthquake: A Bulletin for Child Welfare Organizations Assisting Haitian Families in the United States

Annie E. Casey Foundation , 09 Jul 2010

Practical information for agencies and advocates working with this Haitian children and families following the January 2010 earthquake, with special guidance on filing federal Temporary Protective Status applications.

Gender-sensitive social protection and the MDGs: Gender dynamics cut across all eight of the Millennium Development Goals

Overseas Development Institute , 01 Jul 2010

This briefing paper draws on ODI’s research on social protection and gender in eight countries and three regions funded by DFID and AusAID and discusses how social protection interventions can promote an inter¬linked gender-sensitive approach to the MDGs.

Towards a Social Protection Strategy for the Poor and Vulnerable: Outcomes of the consultation process

Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, Cambodia, 01 Jul 2010

This Note provides background and technical information on social protection in Cambodia to inform the development of a national social protection strategy for the poor and vulnerable by the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).