One of Angola's greatest resources.

The Validation workshop of the Social Protection Investment Scenario Study, held by UNICEF Angola on April 29, represents an important milestone in the journey of supporting the Government of Angola in building a social protection system with a direct impact on the well-being of children under five years of age and children with disabilities,  says Dr. Cristina Brugiolo, UNICEF Deputy Representative, during the event.

"This is also an important step in the development of the social protection floor, which will reduce extreme poverty and the multiple deprivations that affect children in Angola."

For countries to achieve good results in child development, it is necessary to invest in health, education, and social security. If investment in one of these three essential public services is insufficient, children will be harmed.

While it is widely recognized that the Angolan state plays a key role in providing health and education services to children, if it does not also provide direct financial support to households through social security, many of the benefits of investments in health and education will be lost.

A Universal Child Benefit (BUC) is a central element of a modern and comprehensive social security system, offering children regular financial support that supplements household incomes and improves the environment in the home.

The Social Protection Investment Scenario Study Validation workshop represents a critical step in ensuring a well-informed and inclusive validation process for the Investment Scenario Study. Through active participation and knowledge exchange, for the refinement of the final report and for the advancement of Angola's social protection agenda.

Representing the Development Pathways consultancy, Diloá Athias, Senior Economist, says that it is always rewarding to do work that he believes in, and that it is not the first time that his organization has carried out case investment studies for universal benefits for children. 

The economist also points out that Development Pathways has already worked in Angola with UNICEF in the design, launch and implementation of the “Programa Valor Criança”, which consisted of delivering a monthly monetary amount to families with children under five years of age that aimed to improve the well-being of the child and his family.

"The challenges and obstacles are data collection, although INE has a lot of data, we had certain difficulties in obtaining recent data, especially in relation to people with disabilities"

In addition to the investment case for Universal Benefit for Children, experts from UNICEF and Development Pathways also presented costs and potential impacts of Benefits for Children with Disabilities.

Nanizaiawo Morgan, FAS Provincial Director in Uige, says that Angola is taking its first steps, and changing people's mentality is the right step. The expert points out that we need to understand that social protection is a right,t and the two proposals presented are good.

“"Social protection has to be a priority definitely, if it is not a priority it will create other problems and the results end up not being as expected. If we start with the base, in this case the children, we will be preventing that in the future we will have to need firefighters to put out the fire".

The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children have the right to access social security. A child benefit is an effective means of investing in childhood and would bring significant benefits, not only to individual children, but to the nation as a whole.

The National Development Plan 2023–2027 emphasizes the need for Angola to expand its social security programs and strengthen support for vulnerable households, including those with children.

The Angolan Government recognized the importance of the Social Cash Transfer program in the lives of families and children, to promote Social Protection as a right of all citizens within the framework of  “Kwenda”. UNICEF Angola will continue to support social protection in Angola by strengthening social action interventions to help people in situations of greater social vulnerability.