The Nigerian Living Standard Survey (NLSS, 2004) estimates poverty incidence in Nigeria at around 54 per cent. This means that about 75 million Nigerians live in poverty. Of these, 22 million or so are thought to be ‘core poor’.
A recent Risk and Vulnerability Analysis in Nigeria (RVA, 2003) estimated the vulnerability headcount at almost 90 per cent. In addition to these broad indications of the extreme poverty and vulnerability challenge in Nigeria, the health and education Millennium Development Goals indicators, specifically, are very poor.
A recent World Bank mission made a case for a CCT scheme (preferably, in-kind transfer) as an appropriate instrument for Nigeria, especially where there are effective supply side interventions.
While the Bank mission report identified possible Conditonal Cash Transfer options for Nigeria, it was decided that a more detailed analysis was required to provide sufficient information for the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of appropriate programmes.
IDS was commissioned to carry out a background study with the aim of filling the gap in knowledge in terms of the feasibility of a CCT. This analytical work was to specifically assist in the design of a functional health and education conditioned cash transfer for the poor in Nigeria. The work included an inventory of existing health- and education-related safety net operations (including CCT) in Nigeria.