[Policy Brief] Child Protection as Social Protection: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Problem
Over 300M children live in extreme poverty. Neglect, abuse, and malnutrition cause lifelong disadvantages in education, health, and income.

Evidence

• $1 in early childhood yields $17 in long-term returns.

• Cash + care models (Philippines, Brazil) outperform cash alone.

• Teachers and schools are critical protection nodes.

Policy Options

1. Cash + care integration: Pair transfers with parenting, counseling, and nutrition.

2. School-based protection: Train teachers, expand meals as SP instruments.

3. Child-sensitive registries: Disaggregate by age, link to health/education data.

Impact
Child-sensitive SP prevents intergenerational poverty. Protecting children is not just a moral imperative — it is the smartest economic investment.