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Targeting effectiveness of social cash transfer programmes in three African countries

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Listed:
  • Sudhanshu Handa
  • Carolyn Huang
  • Nicola Hypher
  • Clarissa Teixeira
  • Fabio V. Soares
  • Benjamin Davis

Abstract

Social transfers are increasingly seen as a key tool in east and southern Africa for combating the triple threat of chronic poverty, hunger and HIV. In designing programmes, targeting has emerged as a contentious issue in the region. Compared with other regions, programmes in sub-Saharan Africa have been characterised by multiple targeting methodologies, including a substantial role of the community in identifying and prioritising beneficiaries. To help better understand some of the different targeting approaches in the region and their effectiveness, this paper examines cash transfer programmes in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. The paper finds that targeting in the three programmes is effective in reaching the poorest households.

Suggested Citation

  • Sudhanshu Handa & Carolyn Huang & Nicola Hypher & Clarissa Teixeira & Fabio V. Soares & Benjamin Davis, 2012. "Targeting effectiveness of social cash transfer programmes in three African countries," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 78-108, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevef:v:4:y:2012:i:1:p:78-108
    DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2011.641994
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    1. Datt, Gaurav & Payongayong, Ellen & Garrett, James L. & Ruel, Marie T., 1997. "The GAPVU cash transfer program in Mozambique," FCND discussion papers 36, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    3. Galasso, Emanuela & Ravallion, Martin, 2005. "Decentralized targeting of an antipoverty program," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(4), pages 705-727, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. B. Essama-Nssah, 2018. "Assessing the performance of targeting mechanisms," Working Papers 457, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    2. Dennis Puorideme & Ivan Lind Christensen, 2022. "“Those who eat from one pot”: Constructing household as a social category in a cash transfer programme in Ghana," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 442-460, March.
    3. World Bank, 2012. "Swaziland - Using Public Transfers to Reduce Extreme Poverty," World Bank Publications - Reports 12321, The World Bank Group.
    4. Hamidou Jawara & Rainer Thiele, 2021. "The Nutrient-Income Elasticity in Ultra-Poor Households: Evidence from Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(6), pages 1795-1819, December.
    5. Alessandro Romeo & Janice Meerman & Mulat Demeke & Antonio Scognamillo & Solomon Asfaw, 2016. "Linking farm diversification to household diet diversification: evidence from a sample of Kenyan ultra-poor farmers," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(6), pages 1069-1085, December.
    6. Michael Hillebrecht & Stefan Klonner & Rainer Sauerborn & Alie Sié & Aurélia Souares, 2021. "The Demand for Health Insurance in a Poor Economy: Evidence from Burkina Faso," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 69(4), pages 1273-1300.
    7. Nicola Hypher & Fabio Veras Soares, 2012. "Does Community-Based Targeting Really Work in Cash Transfer Programmes in Africa?," One Pager 148, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth.
    8. Kate Pruce, 2023. "The Politics of Who Gets What and Why: Learning from the Targeting of Social Cash Transfers in Zambia," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(4), pages 820-839, August.
    9. Adrien Vogt‐Schilb & Stephane Hallegatte, 2017. "Climate policies and nationally determined contributions: reconciling the needed ambition with the political economy," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(6), November.
    10. Lønborg, Jonas Helth & Rasmussen, Ole Dahl, 2014. "Can Microfinance Reach the Poorest: Evidence from a Community-Managed Microfinance Intervention," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 460-472.
    11. Heinrich, Carolyn J. & Brill, Robert, 2015. "Stopped in the Name of the Law: Administrative Burden and its Implications for Cash Transfer Program Effectiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 277-295.
    12. Marwa Ibrahim & Yunwei Chen & Audrey Pereira & Takondwa Musa & Dharini Bathia & Sudhanshu Handa, 2024. "The Psychology of Poverty: A Replication Based on Zimbabwe's Harmonised Social Cash Transfer Programme," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 33(3), pages 225-239.
    13. Handa, Sudhanshu & Peterman, Amber & Huang, Carolyn & Halpern, Carolyn & Pettifor, Audrey & Thirumurthy, Harsha, 2015. "Impact of the Kenya Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children on early pregnancy and marriage of adolescent girls," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 36-45.
    14. Stoeffler, Quentin & Mills, Bradford & del Ninno, Carlo, 2016. "Reaching the Poor: Cash Transfer Program Targeting in Cameroon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 244-263.
    15. Han, Huawei & Gao, Qin, 2019. "Community-based welfare targeting and political elite capture: Evidence from rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 145-159.
    16. Henderson, Heath & Follett, Lendie, 2022. "Targeting social safety net programs on human capabilities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    17. Tebogo B. Seleka, 2020. "Targetting Effectiveness of Social Transfer Programs in Botswana:Means-tested versus Categorical and Self-selected instruments," Working Papers 72, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis.
    18. Francesco Burchi & Margherita Scarlato & Giorgio d'Agostino, 2018. "Addressing Food Insecurity in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The Role of Cash Transfers," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(4), pages 564-589, December.
    19. Ahrens, Achim & Casalis, Marine & Hangartner, Dominik & Sánchez, Rodrigo, 2024. "Cash-based interventions improve multidimensional integration outcomes of Venezuelan immigrants," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    20. Schleicher, Michael & Souares, Aurélia & Pacere, Athanase Narangoro & Sauerborn, Rainer & Klonner, Stefan, 2016. "Decentralized versus Statistical Targeting of Anti-Poverty Programs: Evidence from Burkina Faso," Working Papers 0623, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    21. Benjamin M Hunter & Sean Harrison & Anayda Portela & Debra Bick, 2017. "The effects of cash transfers and vouchers on the use and quality of maternity care services: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-37, March.
    22. Michael L. Goodman & Beatrice J. Selwyn & Robert O. Morgan & Linda E. Lloyd & Moses Mwongera & Stanley Gitari & Philip H. Keiser, 2016. "Improved food quality, quantity and security among Kenyan orphans and vulnerable children: associations with participation in a multisectoral community-based program, age, gender, and sexual risk," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(2), pages 427-442, April.
    23. Elsa Valli, 2017. "Essays on social protection," Economics PhD Theses 1017, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.

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