The Universal Child Benefit Pilot in Kenya

Highlights

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Kenya piloted a Universal Child Benefit (UCB) Programme with support from UNICEF from December 2021 to December 2022, targeting children aged 0–36 months in Kajiado, Embu and Kisumu Counties. The UCB pilot provided KES 800 per month per child, distributed bi-monthly via M-Pesa to female caregivers, and included complementary services to address malnutrition, negative parenting practices and disability exclusion. A qualitative study assessed the pilot’s implementation, accessibility, impact and sustainability, using interviews and focus groups to inform future policy development and scale-up opportunities. This brief presents a summary of this study.

Suggested citation
Uytterhaegen, Thibault, et al., The Universal Child Benefit Pilot in Kenya: A qualitative study, Research brief, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, October 2024.