Despite strong economic growth, 54% of the Nigerian population remains living in poverty. In recent years, the government and its development partners have sought to develop social protection instruments as a mechanism to tackle such high rates of poverty and vulnerability in the country and to support progress in both the economic and the social spheres. As such, social protection is now emerging as a policy objective.

This synthesis report provides an overview of a project which aims to support the government of Nigeria in realising its overarching development strategy (Vision 20: 2020) and develop a national social protection strategy. The project has five thematic reports: a mapping of social protection and its effectiveness, the role of cash transfers in Nigeria, the links between social protection and HIV and AIDS and social protection and child protection and fiscal space.

Methodology
The study drew on both primary and secondary research carried out between January and June 2011. A comprehensive review of literature was carried out on social protection, HIV and AIDS and child protection in Nigeria, including an analysis of policy and strategy documents, programme documents, impact evaluations and other grey literature.

Key informant interviews (KIIs) were undertaken with stakeholders at the national and state levels (including relevant government, donor, international and national non-governmental organisation (NGOs), civil society and academic actors).

Case studies were carried out in four states – Adamawa, Benue, Edo and Lagos – selected on the basis of previous and current implementation of the cash transfer In Care of the Poor (COPE) programme and existence of HIV and AIDS and child protection programmes; prevalence of HIV and AIDS and specific child protection vulnerabilities; state poverty profiles and susceptibility to shocks and stresses; and a geographical spread across the northern and southern regions.