Kaduna Social Protection: Stakeholders Brainstorm On Effective Inclusive Interventions

Critical stakeholders working around social protection in Kaduna State have agreed to work collaboratively to ensure that no target group is left behind in any social intervention programme in the State.

Social protection is a programme designed to capture poor and vulnerable homes and provide relief palliative to cushion the effect of poverty or vulnerability whenever the need arises vis-a-vis available resources for specific interventions like COVID-19.

A coalition called Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) had organised her first virtual town hall meeting where frontline government agencies, civil society, development partners and the media met to discuss future of social protection in Kaduna State.

A communique issued at the end of the town hall meeting by the Chairman of the Communique drafting committee, Shindong Bala and jointly signed by six others said, the partnership was to strengthen collaboration and synergy among civil society, media, development partners and relevant government agencies driving social protection programmes in the state.

The communique read in part, “the partnership will be strengthened in the areas of policy implementation, expansion of social register, timely information sharing, tracking interventions and ensuring transparency and accountability.

“CSOs and media will cross-check any information on social protection interventions with relevant government offices before dissemination to check misinformation.”

“The relief distribution and monitoring committee would make public its activities and financial report for transparency and accountability in line with the principles of Open Government Partnership.

“The committee would involve CSOs, media and other relevant stakeholders in the planning and distribution of palliatives.

“The CSOs and the media will provide technical support, create awareness, ensure proper targeting of vulnerable groups and strengthen accountability.

“This is very crucial for the success of social protection interventions in Kaduna State,” the communique added.

KADSPAC is a coalition of civil society and media practitioners working around social protection policies and implementation in Kaduna state, supported by Save the Children International (SCI).

By Sola Ojo, Monday 29-06-2020