The evolution of Nepal’s child grant: from humble beginnings to a real driver of change for children?

Nepal’s Child Grant was introduced in 2009, and the government made a commitment to enhance and expand the programme in 2016. This contribution argues that good evidence, local popularity, and a combination of political legitimacy and opportunity were all necessary to bring about the reforms. Despite initial underinvestment and various design and implementation challenges, the reforms provide a solid platform to help the programme realise its full potential