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More evidence on the impact of government social protection in sub‐Saharan Africa: Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe

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  • Sudhanshu Handa
  • Frank Otchere
  • Paul Sirma
  • the Evaluation Study Team

Abstract

Motivation Governments in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) have rapidly expanded cash transfer programmes as part of their social protection strategy over the last decade. Currently 46 countries have a state‐sponsored social protection programme, compared to just 25 countries in 2005, with the most common type of programme being cash transfers, representing 51% of all social protection spending in the region. Purpose We present evidence on the overall impacts of state‐sponsored cash transfer programmes in SSA, using data from three impact evaluations of government programmes. All three programmes were a key component of the poverty reduction strategy of the respective governments at the time of the evaluations. Methods and approach We show impacts across nine broad domains including both protection, production and human development, using baseline and follow‐up household surveys on Treatment and Control groups. We relate the pattern of impacts to programme design parameters to further understand the constraints faced by ultra‐poor rural households. Findings All three programmes have strong effects on their primary objective—food security or food consumption, as well as on secondary objectives that include livelihood strengthening and children’s well‐being. The largest and most consistent impacts occur in Malawi, where transfer values are in line with international best practice and payments were made regularly during the study period. All programmes show a positive income multiplier, with the multiplier largest in Malawi at 2.94. Policy implications The overall results across three national programmes add to the growing evidence from Africa that government unconditional cash transfers have important positive effects on households, that these effects are not limited to just food security, and that programme design features influence the pattern and size of impacts. Results in this article are based on programmes that pass both criteria of implementation feasibility and political acceptability, and thus provide a more accurate reflection of what real‐world cash transfer programmes can achieve in SSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Sudhanshu Handa & Frank Otchere & Paul Sirma & the Evaluation Study Team, 2022. "More evidence on the impact of government social protection in sub‐Saharan Africa: Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(3), May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:40:y:2022:i:3:n:e12576
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Ravallion, 2013. "How Long Will It Take to Lift One Billion People Out of Poverty?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 28(2), pages 139-158, August.
    2. Jacobus de Hoop & Valeria Groppo & Sudhanshu Handa, 0. "Cash Transfers, Microentrepreneurial Activity, and Child Work: Evidence from Malawi and Zambia," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 34(3), pages 670-697.
    3. Davis, Benjamin & Handa, Sudhanshu & Hypher, Nicola & Winder Rossi, Natalia & Winters, Paul & Yablon (ed.), 2016. "From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub Saharan Africa," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198769446.
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    5. Averi Chakrabarti & Sudhanshu Handa & Luisa Natali & David Seidenfeld & Gelson Tembo, 2020. "More evidence on the relationship between cash transfers and child height," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 14-37, January.
    6. Handa, Sudhanshu & Natali, Luisa & Seidenfeld, David & Tembo, Gelson & Davis, Benjamin, 2018. "Can unconditional cash transfers raise long-term living standards? Evidence from Zambia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 42-65.
    7. James Manley & Vanya Slavchevska, 2019. "Are cash transfers the answer for child nutrition in sub‐Saharan Africa? A literature review," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 37(2), pages 204-224, March.
    8. Sarah Baird & Craig McIntosh & Berk Özler, 2011. "Cash or Condition? Evidence from a Cash Transfer Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(4), pages 1709-1753.
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    1. Averi Chakrabarti & Sudhanshu Handa & Malawi and Zambia Cash Transfer Evaluation Teams, 2023. "The impacts of cash transfers on household energy choices," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(5), pages 1426-1457, October.

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