Social Safety Nets and Adolescent Out-of-School Girls in Kenyan Urban Slums: An Income Sources Impact Analysis

Adolescent out-of-school girls in Kenyan urban slums face significant socio-economic challenges, including poverty and limited access to education. The study employed a qualitative approach involving in-depth interviews with 50 adolescent out-of-school girls from Kenyan urban slums, supplemented by focus group discussions and secondary data analysis. Findings indicate that social safety nets provided modest but consistent support for food security, while alternative income sources such as microfinance initiatives showed higher potential for sustainable livelihoods among participants. The study underscores the need for a balanced approach to addressing adolescent out-of-school girls' socio-economic challenges, incorporating both traditional safety net programmes and innovative income generation strategies. Policy makers should consider integrating social safety nets with microfinance services to enhance support for urban slum adolescents.