Building social protection to reduce risks related to developmental and life-cycle vulnerabilities is increasingly reflected in social transfer programmes globally and in many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, social protection strategies and policy frameworks have often neglected children’s vulnerability to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. In Nigeria, where child protection is a key concern, important gaps also exist in relation to national policy on social assistance for vulnerable children.

This paper summarises findings from a longer report which aimed to identify policy and programming gaps and offer recommendations on how Nigeria can implement its national development strategies to be more responsive to children’s protection vulnerabilities. Drawing on secondary literature along with primary qualitative data collected from four states (Adamawa, Benue, Edo and Lagos), the report focused on linkages between child protection and social protection services regarding three key deficits – child trafficking; harmful forms of child labour; and child domestic abuse. These three issues were selected on account of the international evidence base documenting linkages between social protection initiatives and these child protection challenges.