The United Kingdom government has provided £4.7 million for the development of social protection programs and policies in Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, and Kaduna.
The three-year project tagged “Expanding Social Protection for Inclusive Development (ESPID) commenced in 2021 and was funded by the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to reduce multidimensional poverty in the country.
The project was implemented by Save the Children International (SCI) and Action Against Hunger (AAH)
The Country Director of SCI Nigeria Duncan Harvey while speaking at the closeout ceremony of the ESPID project in Abuja said Intersecting shocks are driving more Nigerians into poverty and vulnerability,
Stressing the need for the country to implement its social protection, he said it was shocking for a country so endowed with human and natural resources to have 133 million of its population poor and about 67.5 percent of the figure are children between ages 0 and 17.
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He maintained that through this program, they have forged new relationships, strengthened partnerships, and leveraged influence to promote the adoption of robust social protection measures, as well as generated evidence, advocated for policy reforms, and built the capacity of systems to ensure that Nigerian citizens—especially children and their caregivers—experience a tangible reduction in multi-dimensional poverty.
Harvey stated that ESPID has seen the finalization of the review of the National Social Protection Policy, enactment of social protection laws in Jigawa, Kaduna and Zamfara states, Approval of social protection policies in six states of Edo, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Zamfara, Maternal and Child Cash Transfer Program funded by the Jigawa State Government, and strong collaboration with civil society organizations to ensure they are prepared to advocate for and hold government accountable for improved social protection services.
The Country Director of Action Against HungerThierno Samba Diallo represented by the Head of Grants and Compliance, ACF, Meklit Misganaw, said the ESPID project was founded on the belief that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to the resources and support necessary for a dignified life.