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Child Poverty and Social Protection in Western and Central Africa

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Child Poverty and Social Protection in Western and Central Africa Child Poverty and Social Protection in Western and Central Africa 23‐25 May 2016 | Abuja, Nigeria Academic workshop organised by UNICEF WCARO (Western and Central Africa Regional Office), CROP, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Equity for Children. The papers are drafts, they must not to be quoted, or referred to, without the authors/organizers written permission in advance. TABLE OF CONTENTS Corresponding author Institutional affiliation Title Country Paper title Academic Planning Unit, University of Energy and Natural Senior Research Child poverty and social protection: Addaney, Michael Resources Assistant GHANA Perspectives and lessons from Ghana Adesina, Olubukola Department of Political Science, The Girl‐Child and Social Protection in S. University of Ibadan Senior Lecturer NIGERIA Nigeria Child Poverty Trends in Nigeria: Does the Asogwa, Robert Economic Policy and Inclusive Benefit Incidence of Public Spending on Chikwendu Growth Unit, UNDP PhD NIGERIA Social Sector Services Matter? Coolican, Mariana (et Social Policy EQUATORIAL Child poverty and social protection in al) UNICEF Equatorial Guinea Specialist GUINEA Equatorial Guinea Child Poverty as a Consequence of Institutional Weaknesses: An Evaluation of Dept of Sociology & Criminal Social Protection and Social Justice in Derby, C. Nana (et al) Justice, Virginia State University Prof. USA Ghana Djofang Yepndo, Sub Regional Inst. of Statistics & Statistician and Determinants and trend of child wellbeing Carele Guilaine (et Applied Economics (ISSEA) & Economist status in Cameroon and implications on al) Univ. of Yaounde 2‐Soa Engineer/ CAMEROON social protection Laboratory of Analysis and Research in Mathematical Recent trends, incidence, depth and Feuben Pamen, Eric Economic (LAREM) & CEDIMES geographically distribution of child poverty Patrick (et al) (France) Economist CAMEROON in Cameroon and Senegal Building on National Census Data for Chief of Social Disaggregated Child Poverty and Policy and Vulnerability Mapping as a Programming Gregr, Daniela (et al) UNICEF Mauritania Partnerships MAURITANIA and Advocacy Tool Child Poverty and Inequality in Ghana: positive highlights from the new household Hague, Sarah (et al) UNICEF Ghana Chief of Policy GHANA survey Assessing child poverty and Dept of Economics & multidimensional deprivation in Sub‐ Management Studies, Afe Saharan Africa: A comparative analysis of Igbatayo, Samuel A. Babalola Univ. Prof. NIGERIA D.R. Congo and Nigeria Making sense of clustering countries in Regional Adviser West and Central Africa for improved Nebie, Gustave UNICEF WCARO Economics NIGERIA UNICEF engagement in the region Ogunwale, Amos O. Nigerian Institute of Social and Senior Research Child poverty determinants and social (et al) Economic Research (NISER) Fellow NIGERIA protection policies in Nigeria School of Built Environment & Development Studies, Univ. of A comparative analysis of child social Okem, Andrew E. KwaZulu Natal Senior Researcher SOUTH AFRICA protection in Nigeria and South Africa Social Protection in Africa: A Review of Omilola, Babatunde Potential Contribution and Impact on (et al) UNDP Economic Adviser SOUTH AFRICA Poverty Reduction Ozughalu, Uche M Dept of Economics, Univ. of Child poverty and deprivation in Nigeria: (et al) Nigeria, Nsukka Senior Lecturer NIGERIA evidence from most recent surveys Why social protection models fail: The importance of considering child poverty in Deputy Director the context of extended families and Skelton, Diana (et al) ATD Fourth World General FRANCE/USA communities International Development Girl child poverty in different contexts: Studies, University of East understandings from Ghana and North Tiwari, Meera (et al) London Reader UK India Child poverty and social protection: Perspectives and lessons from Ghana Michael Addaney*1 Senior Research Assistant, Academic Planning Unit University of Energy and Natural Resources Tel: +233 555 167 578 Email: [email protected] Abstract The percentage of Ghanaian children living below the poverty line has drastically reduced from 36 per cent in 2006 to 28 per cent in 2013. This notwithstanding, there is a growing concern for child well-being, survival and development in the country. Studies indicate that under-five deaths are still high at 111 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2013 with about 39 per cent of children experiencing severe deprivation in sanitation as well as 30 per cent in education. It has further been argued that children in rural areas are 50 per cent likely to experience stunting compared with urban children. Child poverty remains considerably higher in rural areas (42 percent) than in urban areas (13 percent). Despite the rolling out of social protection programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Programme, School Feeding Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme, Programme to reduce nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies as well as the Supplementary school feeding programme and take-home rations for girls, they are yet to make any meaningful impact on child poverty. For instance, an estimated 3.65 million children live in poverty with 2.2 million living in extreme poverty as at the year 2013. Particularly, an estimated 34 per cent of girls between the ages of 5 to 14 are engaged in child labour activities. Therefore, this paper examines the effects of selected social protection programmes (Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty and School Feeding Programmes) on child poverty and evaluates the strategies adopted in the selected programmes to address child poverty (to ensure the well- being of children). The paper draws out the main axle of the selected programmes, the main implementation challenges and the relevant lessons to inform future social protection programmes. It does this through critical content analysis of nationally representative sample surveys and policy reports on social protection programmes pertinent to child poverty. Other reports and academic papers that contain information on child welfare, development and survival such as children’s access to basic social, economic and healthcare services (including nutrition, education, and protection), as well as other national statistics on child development, poverty and rights in Ghana would be analyzed. This paper therefore argues that Ghana’s social protection programmes are yet to make any meaningful impact on child poverty due to the failure of most poverty profiles, mappings and evaluations to distinguish between child and adult poverty. It further argues that social protection strategies addressing child poverty must be integrated as well as participatory through involving children in their programming and implementation. It posits that this affects the effectiveness of social protection policies and strategies targeted at child poverty. It therefore recommends that child focused social protection programmes and strategies should be evidenced-based, participatory, child-rights respecting and development-oriented. 1 *MPhil in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa, Senior Research Assistant at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana. Addaney 1 Background and context The quest to eradicate chronic poverty as enshrined in the just-expire Millennium Development Goals remain a fundamental objective of international development. Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere is the first goal of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Deacon and St Clair (2015) observe that eliminating extreme poverty needs provide both universal and comprehensive access to basic resources and social protection as well as to address inequalities among social groups across and within countries. Achieving this goal requires the provision of social protection to eliminate extreme poverty. In addition, child protection has received a major boost after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989. Recognising the human rights-based approach to development, the CRC prohibits child protection violations and provides for access to basic services including education, health and nutrition. It obliges governments to support caregivers in providing quality care to children (UNCRC, 1989: article 18). Conversely, evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicates that the rights of many children to adequate care are severally being violated (UNICEF, 2009). This situation has negative effect on children’s education, health, and survival, emotional and physical development. Poverty and deprivation have a major impact on children’s ability to stay with their parents as well as affect the ability of the families to offer support for the child. Also, poverty influences other determinants of childcare choices including migration, child labour and abuse in the home. This affects the quality of childcare. Therefore, the existence of social protection and its ancillary support structures such as access to basic services are imperative in dealing with child poverty and its other determinants (Roelen and Chettri, 2014). The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) (2005) posits that children living in poverty are susceptible to material deprivation, lack of spiritual and emotional support needed to survive, making them unable to enjoy their rights as well as realise their full potential or participate fully as equal members of society.2 Social protection plays an important role in tackling poverty among children through its basic objective of
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