Profiles
Cristina Cirillo
Consultant (Former title)
Cristina joined the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti in December 2018. Her research interests lie in the field of social policies, poverty, risk-coping strategies, households investments, migration, agriculture, and south-south cooperation. She has experience in evaluating the impact of social protection programmes and policies on households and individuals outcomes. Prior to joining the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti she worked with the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth - UNDP, the Middlebury College, the European University Institute and IFAD. She is a Candidate in a joint Ph.D. programme in Development Economics at the University of Florence and the University of Trento. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of Florence.
Publications
Publication
Non-contributory Social Protection and Adolescents in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries: A review of government programming and impacts
Adolescents face unique vulnerabilities related to their health, schooling and the intensification of gender socialization. As the next generation next in line to become adults, their transition has major implications for the future health, economic growth and well-being of nations. Yet, children and adolescents have low rates of social protection coverage globally – a missed opportunity for investment.
This report examines how social protection can promote adolescent well-being and facilitate safe and productive transitions to adulthood in lower- and middle-income countries. Focusing on government, non-contributory programmes, the following questions are examined: 1) whether and how current non-contributory social protection programmes are adolescent-sensitive and 2) what is the impact of non-contributory social protection programmes on adolescents.