Cash Transfers – Lessons from Africa and Latin America

Abstract

Cash transfer programmes are emerging as indispensable component of poverty reduction strategies. The objectives of alleviating short-term poverty and long-term human capital building are what make cash transfers, particularly conditional ones, attractive. In Latin America, where cash transfers are widely implemented, impact evaluations show significant positive impacts. Improved nutritional intakes, access to health and education as well as reduction in poverty and inequality are observed. The International Poverty Centre has a comprehensive research agenda on cash transfer programmes. The work mainly focuses on comparative studies in selected countries in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Centre, in collaboration with international and bilateral agencies, also carries out both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the impact of cash transfers on poverty and inequality. (...)