A Declaration of Child- Sensitive Social Protection DFID – Helpage International – UNICEF Hope and Homes for children – IDS ILO – ODI – Save the Children – World Bank

Overarching Justification The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ILO conventions on Social Security establish social protection as a means for states to protect their most vulnerable citizens. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ILO conventions on Social Security establish social protection as a means for states to protect their most vulnerable citizens.

Justification Children comprise over a third of the population in most developing countries, are over-represented amongst the poor Children comprise over a third of the population in most developing countries, are over-represented amongst the poor CSSP can address the chronic poverty, social exclusion and external shocks in childhood CSSP can address the chronic poverty, social exclusion and external shocks in childhood Children are practically and legally less able to claim their rights without the strong support that social protection strategies can offer Children are practically and legally less able to claim their rights without the strong support that social protection strategies can offer CSSP can address the risk of exclusion that is intensified for children in marginalized communities, and those who are additionally excluded due to gender, disability or other factors CSSP can address the risk of exclusion that is intensified for children in marginalized communities, and those who are additionally excluded due to gender, disability or other factors

Growth spin-offs to CSSP Failure to invest early and adequately has long-term implications for children and societies: Failure to invest early and adequately has long-term implications for children and societies: increases the likelihood of poverty, social exclusion and adverse behaviour in adulthood increases the likelihood of poverty, social exclusion and adverse behaviour in adulthood Increases the likelihood of the inter-generational transmission of poverty Increases the likelihood of the inter-generational transmission of poverty Where undertaken at scale, investing in CSSP can: Where undertaken at scale, investing in CSSP can: address these vulnerabilities and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals address these vulnerabilities and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals provide protection as new challenges such as rising food prices and climate change emerge. provide protection as new challenges such as rising food prices and climate change emerge. Build promotive human capital and thus support national social and economic development. Build promotive human capital and thus support national social and economic development.

Principles of CSSP - I 1. Intervene as early as possible where children are at risk, in order to prevent irreversible harm; 2. Consider the age and gender specific risks and vulnerabilities of children throughout the life- cycle; 3. Mitigate the effects of shocks, exclusion and poverty on families, recognizing that families raising children need support to ensure equal opportunity;

Principles of CSSP - II 5. Make special provision to reach children who are particularly vulnerable and excluded, including children without parental care, and who are marginalized within their families or communities; 6. Consider the mechanisms and intra-household dynamics that may affect how children are reached, with particular attention paid to the special circumstances of women.

SP programmes are child sensitive…… when they are designed and implemented to fulfill their potential to: (a) enhance access to basic services for the poorest and most marginalized, (a) enhance access to basic services for the poorest and most marginalized, (b) support families and caregivers in their child care role including increasing the time available within the household (b) support families and caregivers in their child care role including increasing the time available within the household (c) prevent child abuse in and outside the home (c) prevent child abuse in and outside the home (d) reduce child labour (d) reduce child labour (e) increase caregivers’ access to employment or income generation (e) increase caregivers’ access to employment or income generation (f) prepare adolescents for their own livelihoods and take account of their role as current and future workers and parents. (f) prepare adolescents for their own livelihoods and take account of their role as current and future workers and parents.

Practical Steps Progressive realization of child sensitive social protection programmes for all Progressive realization of child sensitive social protection programmes for all Increase available resources for child sensitive social protection Increase available resources for child sensitive social protection Ensure existing social protection programmes are child sensitive Ensure existing social protection programmes are child sensitive Increase capacity at all levels for child sensitive social protection strategies Increase capacity at all levels for child sensitive social protection strategies Continue to build an evidence base around child sensitive social protection Continue to build an evidence base around child sensitive social protection