Social Protection for Children: Key Policy Trends and Statistics

This policy paper: (i) provides a global overview of the organization of child and family benefits in 183 countries; (ii) presents the negative impacts of fiscal consolidation and adjustment measures in a number of higher-income economies; (iii) analyses trends and recent policies, e.g. extension of child and family benefit coverage in a large number of lowand middle-income countries; (iv) presents the costs of basic universal child and orphan benefits in 57 low and lower middle income countries; and (v) calls for the expansion of social protection for children and families in pursuit of crisis recovery, inclusive development and social justice.