This case study documents experiences from the government of Nigeria and partners’ social protection and humanitarian responses to COVID-19. It aims to contribute knowledge and learning to inform both the direction of social protection in Nigeria, as well as global debates on shock responsive social protection (SRSP) and linking humanitarian action and social protection (HA-SP). The paper draws from a range of data sources including:

• Existing published and grey literature on social protection policy and programming in Nigeria – including social protection sector reviews, studies on SRSP and linking HA-SP in Nigeria, and grey documentation on the government’s planned social protection response.
• Experiences of the lead author, through SPACE, providing a range of technical assistance to social protection and humanitarian actors in Nigeria during 2020-21, and associated outputs.
• Primary data collection from a range of key informants in the country.

FCDO Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria’s National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and members of the Development Partners Group on Social Protection in Nigeria also provided valuable comments and feedback on early drafts.