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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Making Cash Count: Lessons from Cash Transfer Schemes in East and Southern Africa

Stephen Devereux, Jenni Marshall, Jane MacAskill, and Larissa Pelham, 2005

This paper is a comprehensive examination of cash transfers in Africa and their impact on children. Case studies from Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho are discussed.

Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies

United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005

Comprehensive guidelines for dealing with the planning, establishment, and coordination of multisectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Evaluating the Impact of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs

Laura B. Rawlings and Gloria M. Rubio , 2005

This paper examines the short-term impact of conditional cash transfer programs in comparison to traditional social assistance programs. Programs in Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua and Turkey are highlighted.

Conditional Cash Subsidies for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS

UNICEF, 2005

Outlines the impact of a pre-pilot conditional cash transfer scheme implemented in Kenya and defines key issues to be considered before moving forward into pilot and national schemes. Short annexes include tools/frameworks to guide implementation.

Poverty, Vulnerability, and HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming in Lesotho: Livelihoods Recovery Through Agriculture Program and Secure the Child

Joanne Abbot, Mosele Lenka, PJ Lerotholi, Makojang Mahao, and Sechaba Mokhamaleli, 2005

A description of a multi-level intervention in rural Lestho aimed to improve the livelihood security of vulnerable households by improving home gardening, increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS, and influencing policy. By focusing on rural livelihoods and economic empowerment the program had some success in raising awareness and strengthening resilience to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Making the Case for Cash: Humanitarian Food Aid Under Scrutiny

Oxfam International, 2005

Briefing note advocating cash transfers in disaster relief, with a particular focus on operations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia following the tsunami in 2004.

Towards Social Welfare Services for All Vulnerable Children in South Africa: A Review of Policy Development, Budgeting and Service Delivery

Judith Streak and Sasha Poggenpoel , 2005

This paper provides an overview of the policy framework and financing of social welfare services in South Africa. Current budgeting and service delivery practices are discussed, as well as obstacles and recommendations for advanced action.

Reviewing Ten Years of the School Nutrition Programme

Russell Andrew Wildeman and Nobuntu Mbebetho, 2005

Reviews the history, effectiveness, and efficacy of the School Nutrition Programme in South Africa. Conclusions strengthen arguments for programme expansion.

Economic Strengthening Activities Benefiting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Africa: Mapping of Field Programs

Carolyn Barnes, 2005

This paper identifies programs in sub-Saharan Africa focused on economic strengthening interventions, and analyzes their approaches and impact on orphans and vulnerable children. Interventions focused on savings and lending groups, micro-leasing, market linkages and household gardening appear to be particularly effective.

Economic Strengthening / Livelihood Tools and Literature Review

Hugh Allen, 2005

Summary and analysis of the status of the literature and reviews on economic strengthening and livelihood tools. Contains recommendations of best practices and guidelines on which tools work.