The impact of social cash transfer programmes on community dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa (Research Brief)

This brief describes key findings of a four-year research project, From Protection to Production (PtoP), which is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with UNICEF. Oxford Policy Management partnered with FAO to design and implement the qualitative field research component. The PtoP project analyzed the impact of social cash transfer programmes in seven sub-Saharan African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia and Zambia. In each country, UNICEF, DFID and FAO commissioned an analysis of social cash transfer programmes using a mixed-method approach: qualitative research, econometric analysis of quantitative evaluation data; and general equilibrium models. The qualitative research studied social cash transfer programmes in six countries: Ghana Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP); Kenya Cash Transfer to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC); Malawi Social Cash Transfer (SCT); Lesotho Child Grant Programme (CGP); Zimbabwe Harmonized Social Cash Transfer Programme (HSCTP); and Ethiopia Social Cash Transfer Pilot Programme (SCTPP). The aim of the studies was to explore the impacts of social cash transfer programmes on household economic decision-making, the local economy and social networks. The studies also looked at how the design and implementation of the programmes affected decisions and economic impacts at household and community levels.