Effectiveness and Challenges of Social Safety Net Programs: A Study on Vulnerable Children of Southwest region in Bangladesh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65496/jssme.2025.49Keywords:
Social Safety Net, Vulnerable Children, Bangladesh, Policy Effectiveness, Implementation Challenges.Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness and challenges of Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) in supporting vulnerable children in the Southwest coastal region of Bangladesh, with a focus on Khulna District. Vulnerable children in this area often face poverty, food insecurity, limited access to education and healthcare, and heightened risks from climate-induced shocks. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research draws on survey data, focus group discussions, and secondary sources to assess both the benefits and limitations of existing SSNPs. The findings indicate that SSNPs such as education stipends, nutritional support, and health services have contributed to improved school enrollment, reduced child labor, and enhanced household food security. Systemic challenges, such as inefficient targeting, resource shortages, corruption, and weak monitoring mechanisms, significantly constrain these impacts. Moreover, most programs fail to adequately address the specific developmental, psychological, and protection needs of children in disaster-prone contexts, as they remain household-focused. The study concludes that we urgently need a child-sensitive and climate-responsive social protection framework. Strengthening transparency, ensuring inclusive beneficiary selection, and enhancing collaboration between government and civil society actors are critical for maximizing the transformative potential of SSNPs in promoting equity and sustainable child development in Bangladesh.
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