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This commentary on the Integrated Strategy for Attention to Nutrition (EsIAN) journal supplement begins with a discussion about the challenges that implementation researchers confront with respect to analyzing complex impact pathways. We note that the research on the implementation of the EsIAN component of Mexico’s conditional cash transfer program was based implicitly or explicitly on a program impact pathway approach, which used both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine bottlenecks in program implementation.
Mexico’s Prospera-Oportunidades-Progresa Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT-POP) included the distribution of fortified food supplements (FFS) for pregnant and lactating women and young children. Rigorous evaluations showed significant impacts on nutrition outcomes but also substantial gaps in addressing nutrition problems.Three key design and implementation challenges were identified. FFS, although well accepted for children, had limited potential to substantially modify the quality of children’s diets because of the pattern of use in the home.
This paper examines the linkages between social protection and resilience to climate change among poor rural households. To date there is a very limited understanding of the potential role of social protection programmes in contributing to an increase in resilience of the rural poor with respect to climate change. An improved understanding of these links can help to build the knowledge base that is needed to help the poorest members of the society to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In terms of rights, the Mexican social protection system (MSPS) has been relatively ineffective; it is incomplete, weakly integrated, segmented and stratified, weak in terms of labour protection and conservative in its gender approach, and, furthermore, it is also fiscally weak. Alongside social security and educational organisations, institutions of social protection for poor people have recently been created. However, enormous challenges still remain for the MSPS to guarantee social rights.
This comparative analysis aims to help the ILO generate new thinking on ways to improve the impact of cash transfer programmes on women's poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Key findings relate to selected cash transfer programmes from five countries: Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico and South Africa.