Strategic Planning and Poverty Reduction Outcomes in Nigeria’s National Social Investment Programme

This study evaluates the role of strategic planning quality in determining poverty reduction outcomes under Nigeria's National Social Investment Programme, focusing on implementation in the North West and South East zones. The National Social Investment Programme represents one of Nigeria's largest social protection initiatives, making its strategic management architecture particularly important. The research employs a document review and key informant interview approach, targeting program managers, state coordinators, and civil society monitoring organizations involved in program implementation across Kano, Zamfara, Enugu, and Anambra states. A total of 60 key informants were engaged through purposive selection. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data, supplemented by descriptive statistics for quantitative program delivery data. Findings indicate that states with dedicated strategic coordination units and results-based monitoring frameworks demonstrate significantly better beneficiary targeting accuracy and transfer delivery rates than those relying on generalized administrative processes. The study identifies political interference in beneficiary selection and weak local government strategic capacity as the primary constraints on strategic planning effectiveness in the programme. The research concludes that strategic management capacity building at state and local government levels is essential for transforming social investment programme intentions into measurable poverty reduction outcomes. Keywords: strategic planning, poverty reduction, National Social Investment Programme, Nigeria, social protection.