Team members of the Social Policy Research Institute (SPRI Global) supported Save the children International, office of Nigeria, to map and review social protection legislation and legal systems across Africa to provide recommendations for a social protection legal system in Nigeria. 

The main objectives of the study were to:

1. Assess national social protection related legislative provisions, in order to identify legislative gaps.
2. Map out and undertake a comparative analysis of African social protection legislative frameworks.
3. Undertake rapid assessment of key stakeholders, interests and incentives, key debates and narratives relating to social protection legislation in the country.
4. Based on international best practices and the rapid assessment provide recommendations for technically and politically feasible options for Nigeria.

The analysis for this study used the Inter-Agency Social Protection Assessment Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) to assess the policy and legislative frameworks in select countries in Africa and Nigeria, administrative structures of social protection systems, and policymaking processes. Structured interviews with key informants in Nigeria were used for the rapid assessment of the main social protection stakeholders and their interests and incentives.

This exercise was part of the Child Development Grant Programme (CDGP) – strengthening social protection systems component, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Save the children and Action Against Hunger at the national level and four states in Nigeria. The project aims to support the Government of Nigeria to:

1. Strengthen policy and legislation.
2. Support the design and delivery of social protection programmes.
3. Work with civil society and the media to stimulate political will and promote accountability.