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The role of social protection in improving child well-being and care in Africa
Roelen, Keetie ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This chapter gives an overview of how social protection supports child well-being and care in Africa. It looks at how far coverage has grown and which groups of children are still not reached. It also reviews the effects of social protection on children, including income effects, psychosocial and behavioural effects, and structural constraints. It ends with reflections on how programmes should be designed and implemented. It focuses mainly on social assistance, meaning non-contributory cash or in-kind support.
Key points
- Social protection coverage has expanded rapidly in Africa.
- Some groups of children remain undercovered.
- Impacts are considered through direct and indirect income effects, psychosocial and behavioural effects, and structural constraints.
- The chapter offers reflections on programme design and implementation.
- The focus is on non-contributory social assistance (cash or in-kind support).
Limitations
Only a short abstract is available, so no specific findings, figures, countries or study designs can be assessed. The chapter is an overview, not an evaluation of a single intervention.
Abstract
This chapter aims to provide an overview of the role of social protection in improving child well-being and care in Africa by considering progress made and gaps to be addressed. First, it reflects on coverage, highlighting the rapid expansion of social protection and reflecting on undercoverage among particular groups of children. Second, it provides an overview of the impact of social protection on children, considering direct and indirect income effects, psychosocial and behavioral effects, and structural constraints. Third, it offers reflections on the way forward, particularly in relation to the design and implementation of programs. Note that this chapter focuses primarily on social assistance, referring to interventions that offer cash or in-kind support on a noncontributory basis.