Strengthening Kenya’s Social Protection Agenda through Research, Programming & Policy

Abstract

Social protection programmes are among the most successful development experiences the World has seen in recent years. They have proven to be key in developing countries’ efforts to fight poverty and hunger. Countries and donor agencies across the World have adopted social protection strategies to complement and strengthen their efforts at reducing poverty and vulnerability. In Kenya, social protection is entrenched in primarily three ways: through cash transfer programmes where beneficiaries attest to improved household food security, retention of children in schools, access to basic health care, enhanced social support networks, self-esteem and dignity1; through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) which provides social security protection to formal and informal workers in form of lump sum payments upon retirement; and through social health insurance implemented by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) through their subsidy programs for orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities and older persons.