This report discusses the role of social protection in addressing child vulnerability and deprivations in a region with very high poverty levels and child mortality, and multiple risks to child survival, development and protection. It reviews social protection provision from a child lens, covering traditional informal mechanisms as well as modern formal programs for social assistance (including cash transfers), social insurance and social welfare services. The report discusses the developing policy framework, including countries’ social protection strategies and the coverage of vulnerability reduction and social protection in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). It also considers some of the complex institutional and implementation challenges facing the development of stronger social protection provision in West and Central Africa.
The meeting was co-organised by Equity for Children in partnership with UNICEF and the Bristol Poverty Institute, at the University of Bristol, UK, who are collaborating on a research program to improve the international measurement of child and family poverty.
