UNICEF, KASPA Forge Stronger Ties to Improve Social Protection Outcomes in Kano
Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to piloting all packages of social protection programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable children across the state.
The Director General of the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA), Dr. Fatima Abdul Abubakar, made this known during a Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) Review Meeting held today in Kano.
Dr. Fatima expressed the agency’s readiness to work in collaboration with key stakeholders including the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the media to effectively implement projects that address poverty, child malnutrition, and other pressing issues affecting children.
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She highlighted the importance of the universal child grant initiative and emphasized the need for direct cash transfers to parents or caregivers, particularly those whose children are not attending school, to ease the burden of multi-dimensional poverty.
“Children between the ages of 1 and 8 need targeted support. Providing cash transfers through the social register can reduce their suffering,” she said. “We also propose setting up a task force to monitor the delivery of social services and ensure proper implementation and utilization.”
In his remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, Abdulmumin Ladan Ajumawa, stated that the session aimed to enhance coordination among various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) implementing social protection initiatives in Kano.
He explained that the review is crucial, as the Kano Social Protection Policy, established in 2021, is now five years old. “There is a need to reassess the document, identify existing gaps, and integrate new ideas that will enhance implementation and coordination,” he said.
Ajumawa commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for prioritizing social protection efforts. “This administration is determined to improve coordination and synergy among all MDAs to avoid duplication and ensure that every allocated fund is fully utilized for the benefit of the intended beneficiaries,” he added.
He noted that billions of naira have been invested in the past without commensurate outcomes due to poor coordination. “Now, we are focused on measurable outputs, outcomes, and eventually the impact,” he said.
Also speaking, the Co-Chair of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Salisu Yusuf, urged members of the TWG to assess implementation based on budgetary allocations across MDAs and familiarize themselves with ongoing interventions to contribute meaningfully to their progress.
The two-day engagement, supported by UNICEF Kano Field Office, brings together civil servants from relevant MDAs and CSOs involved in social protection efforts to strategize, evaluate progress, and contribute to policy refinement for the benefit of the state.
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