There is emerging global evidence that social protection programmes may have a significant impact on the nutrition of households. In Nigeria there are various interventions (such as COPE), and others at the pilot stage, but there is no evidence as to their effectiveness in terms of impact on child nutritional status.
Given the promising global evidence, it would be timely to use such programmes as a pilot and evaluate them rigorously.
The targeting of a programme to adolescent girls may be particularly effective, helping them get an education, delaying marriage and breaking the intergenerational aspects of under nutrition.