Nepal’s Child Grant was introduced in 2009, and the government made a commitment to enhance and expand the programme in 2016. This contribution argues that good evidence, local popularity, and a combination of political legitimacy and opportunity were all necessary to bring about the reforms. Despite initial underinvestment and various design and implementation challenges, the reforms provide a solid platform to help the programme realise its full potential.
AdhikariTPThapaFBTamrakarSet al. (2014) How Does Social Protection Contribute to Social Inclusion in Nepal? Evidence from the Child Grant in the Karnali Region. London: ODI.
2.
BhuvanendraD (2016) Paying forward: Benefits of Nepal’s Child Grant for Current and Future Generations. Kathmandu, Nepal: UNICEF.
3.
Cash Coordination Group (CCG) (2017) Cash Preparedness in Nepal: Lessons from the 2015 Earthquake. Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal Cash Coordination Group.
4.
Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) (2011) Poverty in Nepal 2010/11. Kathmandu, Nepal: Central Bureau of Statistics and Government of Nepal.
5.
Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) (2014) Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014, Key Findings. Kathmandu, Nepal: Central Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF Nepal.
6.
DruczaK (2015) Cash transfers in Nepal: Do they contribute to social inclusion?Oxford Development Studies44: 49–69.
7.
Hagen-ZankerJMallettRGhimireA (2015) How does Nepal’s Child Grant Work for Dalit Children and their Families?London and Kathmandu, Nepal: ODI and UNICEF.
8.
KoehlerG (2011) Social protection and socioeconomic security in Nepal. IDS Working Paper vol. 2011, no. 370, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.
9.
MathersN (2015) Social protection and resilience. Development Advocate Nepal, UNDP, Kathmandu, Nepal, October 2015–March 2016, pp. 12–16.
10.
MerttensFUpadhyayJKukretyNet al. (2017) Evaluation of the Nepal emergency cash transfer programme through social assistance. Final Report April2017. Oxford, UK: Oxford Policy Management
11.
Ministry of Finance (MOF) (2009) Budget Speech of Fiscal Year 2009/10. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ministry of Finance and Government of Nepal.
12.
Ministry of Finance (MOF) (2016) Budget Speech of Fiscal Year 2016/17. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ministry of Finance and Government of Nepal.
13.
National Planning Commission (NPC) (2017) Demographic Changes of Nepal: Trends and Policy Implications. Kathmandu, Nepal: National Planning Commission and UNICEF Nepal.
UNICEF (2017) Child Grant expansion strategy and options. Technical note prepared for the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development. UNICEF Nepal, Kathmandu.
UNICEF, VARG and Government of Nepal (2014) A cross-sectional survey on reduction of child malnutrition through social protection programme in the Karnali zone of Nepal: Linking Infant and Young Child Feeding and Child Cash Grant. September2014. Kathmandu, Nepal: UNICEF
18.
VARG (2016) End line Survey on the Infant and Young Child Feeding - Child Grant in (IYCF-CG) Programme in the Karnali Zone of Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal: Valley Action Research Group (VaRG).
