Katsina, UNICEF Move to Combat Child Malnutrition Through Universal Child Benefit Scheme 

By: Muhammad Jalal katsina

The Katsina State Government and UNICEF have agreed to establish a multi-stakeholder approach to the proposed Universal Child Benefit (UCB), aimed at reducing child malnutrition, out-of-school rates and household food insecurity while strengthening social protection across the state.

The agreement was reached when Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda,  received a UNICEF delegation led by the Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Shafeeq UrRehman, at Government House, Katsina.

Other members of the delegation were Moses Muse Sichei, Chief of Social Policy, Abuja; Nemat Hajeebhoy, Chief of Nutrition, Abuja; Karanveer Singh, Nutrition Manager, Kano Field Office; and Fatimah Musa Muhammad, Social Policy Specialist, Kano Field Office.

Discussions explored integrated interventions combining cash support for vulnerable households, backyard farming, agricultural value-chain development, back-to-school initiatives and other social protection models. The proposed approach seeks to address the root causes of malnutrition and child vulnerability through sustainable, household-centred solutions.

The UNICEF delegation commended the state government’s sustained commitment and increased investment in child health over the past three years, describing Katsina as a model for child-centred programming.

Both parties agreed to set up a technical working group to develop an implementation framework and financing model for the scheme.