Today marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Despite the remarkable progress made in past decades, 736 million people still live in extreme poverty. Most worryingly children are disproportionately affected: while they make around a third of the global population, they comprise half of those struggling to survive on less than $1.90 a day. In addition to that, 689 million children are living in multidimensionally poor households.
Expanding cash transfers for children could offer a way to achieving the SDG goals of eradicating extreme child poverty and halving multidimensional child poverty. Cash transfers are a form of social protection that have been shown to address child poverty and improve child well-being, while positively impacting health, education and food security. While the power of cash transfers is well-documented, there are significant gaps in coverage. Estimates suggest that only a quarter of the world’s families globally have access to cash support, and 2 out of 3 children do not have access to social protection coverage.
Is it time to provide every child with a cash grant?
Read the full blog HERE, by UNICEF’s David Stewart, Chief of Child Poverty and Social Protection