Child Protection and Social Protection Joint Programme

The Government of Kenya has made significant progress in empowering and promoting the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations as a fundamental component of national development. This has been achieved through the provision of child protection and social protection services and schemes. However, coverage for the most vulnerable remains limited compared to other Lower- and Middle-Income Countries. The Joint Programme (JP) for child protection and social protection expands inclusive systems toward universal coverage, ensuring no one is left behind. Following the commitment by H.E. the President of Kenya to increase social assistance coverage from 1.2 million to 2.5 million households, the JP supports the government in the processes required to actualize this scale-up. Specifically, it advances social protection coverage through both contributory and non-contributory schemes, alongside innovative integrated “cash plus” interventions, such as those under the Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP). These include Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE) and other economic inclusion and resilience-building programs. Critical components of child protection systems, including public finance and workforce development, also receive strengthening, while flagship child protection initiatives—such as care reform and the National Positive Parenting Programme—continue receiving support. Additionally, the JP facilitates the expansion of national schemes, including the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Building on the gains of the SIDA-funded JP for Strengthening Child and Social Protection Systems (implemented since 2018) and the Joint SDG Fund for Universal Social Protection (2020–2022), this JP enhances Kenya’s ability to reach those most at risk of being left behind. These include children, youth, women and girls, rural populations (including those in the agrifood system), people in ASAL counties, residents of informal urban settlements, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, refugees, asylum seekers, and other marginalized and vulnerable groups. Strengthened child protection and social protection systems ensure greater access to inclusive, equitable services that prevent and respond to violence against children, child labor, and child trafficking for forced labor. These efforts contribute to human capital development and increased productivity in the economy. Investments in system capacity, shock responsiveness, and resilience-building remain priorities. The JP also integrates considerations for disability inclusion, gender equality, and emerging social protection issues. These align with key national frameworks, including the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Fourth Medium-Term Plan for Vision 2030 (MTP IV), the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Social Protection Policy (2023), the Children Act (2022), the Care Reform Strategy, the National Policy on Family Promotion and Protection, the National Positive Parenting Programme Guidelines, and other relevant policies. The JP also aligns with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 16, and 17). The JP adds value by supporting the government in developing inclusive, shock-responsive, and coordinated child and social protection systems that address multiple dimensions of poverty and deprivation. This approach reduces vulnerability across the life cycle, builds resilient families and communities, and generates cumulative benefits across generations. Gender equality is integrated as both a means and an objective in achieving SDG goals. A comprehensive gender analysis informs the program, ensuring that child and social protection systems remain fully gender-responsive. Anchored in a Human Rights-Based Approach, the JP adheres to human rights principles, prioritizing the protection and promotion of economic, social, and cultural

Project symbol

KEN/24/51/UND

Admin unit

CO-Dar es Salaam

Start date

17/12/2024

End date

10/12/2026

Total allocation

472438

Total expenditure

Status

Active

211161

Development Partners

Multi Partner Trust Fund Office, UNDP

Country/Countries

Kenya

Outcomes

Outcome 7: Universal social protection