Assessment of Social Protection Programmes and Their Gender Responsiveness in Taraba State

Social protection programmes are intended to reduce poverty and vulnerability, yet their design and implementation frequently fail to address the specific needs and structural disadvantages faced by women. This study assesses the gender responsiveness of social protection programmes in Taraba State, focusing on the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme and TraderMoni programme as implemented in Jalingo, Wukari, and Bali Local Government Areas. A mixed-method design was adopted, with 220 female beneficiaries and 30 programme administrators forming the study sample. Structured questionnaires and focus group discussions provided data, analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that while women constitute the majority of beneficiaries in both programmes, structural gender responsiveness is limited. Cash transfers are frequently controlled by male relatives, disbursement processes are not designed to protect women from domestic pressure, and programme activities are scheduled at times that conflict with women's caregiving roles. Female beneficiaries report improved food security but limited change in their economic independence or household decision-making power. The study recommends redesigning transfer mechanisms to enhance women's autonomous control, scheduling programmes around women's daily time constraints, and incorporating financial literacy components. These findings contribute to gender-sensitive social protection literature for the North East zone. Keywords: social protection, gender responsiveness, women, Taraba State, cash transfer