Social protection and children: Opportunities and challenges in Ghana

The UNICEF West and Central African regional office has undertaken a major study on social protection and children in the region, to get a better understanding of the status of social protection systems and the opportunities and challenges to strengthen social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable children. The study, carried out together with ODI and African researchers, has resulted in a series of thematic reports published in March 2009 ) and five country reports.

This paper provides an overview of poverty, vulnerability and risk in Ghana and discusses the extent to which social protection systems and instruments are addressing child-specifc experiences of poverty and vulnerability. Some of the key points raised include: - Ghana has made substantial progress in developing a policy commitment to social protection, and designing and implementing a number of ?agship programmes with a strong child focus. - There is still much to be done to reach the poorest and most vulnerable, especially in terms of effectively operationalising policy commitments at scale, addressing the multi-dimensionality of childhood poverty and vulnerability and strengthening programme synergies.

Full report.