By Umar Idris Shuaibu
Kano State has taken a leading role in advancing a coordinated social protection framework in the North-West, as the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) unveiled a Joint Action Plan aimed at strengthening collaboration among Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States.
The plan was presented by the Director General of KASPA, Dr. Fatima Abubakar, during the first quarter 2026 two-day Joint Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office in Kaduna.
The initiative marks a shift from policy discussions to practical implementation, outlining priority actions to be executed within the next six to twelve months, alongside clearly defined roles and responsibilities for participating states.
Dr. Fatima Abubakar explained that the framework is designed to promote a unified regional system through strengthened inter-state coordination, including regular quarterly TWG meetings, harmonised reporting templates, and the designation of focal persons to ensure effective collaboration.
Read Also:
UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Child Poverty as States Push Social Protection Reforms
112 Qur’anic Schools join formal education system in Katsina – UNICEF
CITAD Distributes School Materials to Nomadic Pupils in Kano, Urges Increased Govt Intervention
She further highlighted the importance of sustainable financing in driving social protection programmes, noting that the plan incorporates the creation of dedicated budget lines, mobilisation of Islamic social finance instruments such as Zakat and Waqf, and the exploration of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and donor funding opportunities.
The KASPA Director General also emphasised the need to prioritise children and other vulnerable groups through the scaling of Universal Child Benefit programmes, with targeted interventions planned for selected local government areas to ensure inclusivity and impact.
According to her, the framework places strong emphasis on data-driven governance through the harmonisation of social registries and deployment of digital systems to enhance transparency, improve targeting accuracy, and ensure efficient delivery of interventions.
She added that mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation have been incorporated into the plan, including the development of Key Performance Indicators, periodic performance reviews, and improved grievance redress systems to strengthen accountability.
Dr. Abubakar noted that the action plan also integrates climate-responsive and child-sensitive strategies, recognising the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and the need to build resilience within communities.
She stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement, calling for stronger collaboration with community leaders, civil society organisations, and the media to drive awareness and support for social protection initiatives.
The Director General further reiterated the need for continuous capacity building through training, peer learning, and development of operational guidelines to ensure sustainability and effective service delivery.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the joint action plan would enhance collaboration among North-West states, accelerate progress in addressing poverty and inequality, and strengthen systems designed to protect vulnerable populations.
The development reinforces Kano State’s position as a frontrunner in social protection, particularly with the establishment of KASPA as a dedicated institutional framework, even as Jigawa and Katsina continue efforts to finalise and domesticate their respective social protection laws.
Thanks you