This paper assesses the available evidence on the potential effects of social transfers on child protection outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: the negative outcomes or damaging exposure of children to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, and improved outcomes or a reduction in exposure to these phenomena. The study evaluates three possible channels through which social transfers can influence child protection outcomes: direct effects observed where the objectives of social transfers are explicit chid protection outcomes; indirect effects where the impact of social transfers on poverty and exclusion leads to improved child protection outcomes; and potential synergies in implementation of social transfers and child protection. It finds important links between social transfers and child protection.
The report notes that a systems approach to child protection will extend the links between social transfers and child protection. This will involve aiming to shift the focus away from individual forms of harm – violence, abuse, child labour, trafficking – and towards creating a protective environment that addresses risks and minimises vulnerabilities of children. In addition:
- Three features of the evolution of social transfers in low- and middle-income countries suggest growing links with child protection: large-scale programmes with significant reach, a child focus, and multidimensional approaches to poverty reduction.
- Analysis of a database of social transfers impact evaluation studies indicates that, depending on design, social transfers have direct effects on birth registration, child labour, family separation and child marriage.
- Social transfers can generate positive, and also negative, direct effects on child protection outcomes. Asset accumulation transfer programmes requiring adult labour, such as public works and workfare programmes, were found to have effects on child labour and informal care if the associated child care is not adequate.
- Regarding indirect effects, there is strong evidence that social transfers reduce poverty and exclusion, but research on the link between poverty, and poverty reduction, and child protection outcomes in low- and middle-income countries is weak.
- Implementation features of social transfers support potential synergies with child protection services. They include: information and training for participant households covering nutrition, intra-household relations and family services; compliance with conditions as a potentially effective instrument for identification of child protection risk factors and referral to appropriate agencies; packaging additional interventions within integrated anti-poverty transfers; and intermediation.
- Social transfer programme type is less important to child protection effects than the fact that programmes include human development objectives.
Implementation synergies are a key research gap. This is very likely a high-return area for research investment.
