Pathways to Stronger Futures in Haiti: how can economic strengthening through comprehensive social protection improve early childhood development? It is widely understood that poverty undermines early childhood development (ECD). In turn, poor ECD reinforces intergenerational transmission of poverty. Economic strengthening through comprehensive social protection may offer a ‘double boon’: it can improve ECD in the short-term and reduce poverty in the long-run.
This study proposes mixed-methods research that will investigate how economic strengthening through comprehensive social protection can affect ECD, particularly seeking insights into pathways, dynamics and contextual factors that underpin positive or negative linkages. It does so in a context of widespread poverty, poor outcomes for young children and limited availability of services in rural Haiti. It represents a timely contribution to the evidence, which is currently biased towards studying cash transfers and using quantitative methods. It will fill knowledge gaps on the roles of social protection and economic strengthening in improving ECD and reducing intergenerational poverty in Haiti and across the Global South, thereby directly addressing SDGs 1 and 4.
A digital story of the research findings can be found here: How can we improve wellbeing for Haiti’s children?
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