Most countries in West and Central Africa are distinguishable by high levels of poverty, exacerbated by a range of risks – drought, floods, conflict, and displacement to name a few. Many are disproportionately affected by climate change, which deepens underlying vulnerabilities and worsens the inextricable linkages between poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Against this backdrop, there is growing commitment from governments to address these challenges by developing their social protection systems. This analysis covering 19 countries aims to document recent trends – and strategic implications – with regards to the development of social registries and supporting digital information systems in the region, which are the most prominent elements of the underlying ‘delivery systems’ for the social protection sector supporting key functions along the delivery chain. Importantly, they inform ‘targeting’ decisions about who should be eligible for assistance, providing the basis for decisions on who is enrolled and supported.
