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Credits Arne Hoel | World Bank
Published on December 23, 2020

Update: Institutionalizing Social Protection for Accelerated SDG Implementation in Nigeria


Nigeria’s Joint Programme (JP) for Integrated Social Protection aims to give rise to a quality, equitable and sustainable national social protection system. To achieve this, the JP looks to ensure that national and state social protection policies are well implemented and financed, while targeting the most vulnerable and/or beneficiaries with limited access to social protection services.

 

A variety of activities have been implemented over the first nine months. Discussions between PUNOs and Ministries on a new social protection bill have begun in earnest, and the JP assisted the Government in preparing its 2020 Voluntary National Review, thereby linking the SDGs to national development priorities in such areas as health care, education, social inclusion and poverty reduction. Moreover, alongside the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs Nigeria (OSSAP-SDG), a concept note was drafted for the Governors’ Forum in order to select six states to host the JP’s geopolitical zonal consultations. Finally, potential private sector collaborators who have expressed an interest in accelerating progress towards the SDGs have also been identified.

 

The JP launched its pilot in Sokoto State, which will be used to test and refine an approach that then can be rolled out elsewhere. Cash transfer logistics have been addressed by community stakeholders, and a capacity needs assessment for the Sokoto State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (SOCHEMA) was initiated in June. Thus, between the discussions on a new social protection bill, integration of the SDGs into the national development plan, and launch of the Sokoto State pilot, Nigeria’s efforts to improve its social protection system have been fruitful over the first three quarters.