2 research outputs found
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The livelihood impacts of cash transfers in sub-Saharan Africa: beneficiary perspectives from six countries
Cash transfers (CTs) are a social protection mechanism to reduce the poorest households’ vulnerability to shocks and build human capital by smoothing consumption and sustaining expenditure on education and social welfare. Our study examines whether and how CTs go beyond welfare objectives to promote livelihoods. Presenting a cross-case analysis using original qualitative data on beneficiary perspectives from six African countries - Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Ghana – we explore CT livelihood impacts within household economies and social networks, paying attention to gender issues. We find that a small but predictable flow of cash improves strategic livelihood choices and stimulates productive investments, including through positive effects on beneficiary entry into risk-sharing arrangements and networks for economic collaboration. Levels of household vulnerability and labour constraint nevertheless significantly mediate the ability of CTs to consolidate present livelihood outcomes. The varying availability of economic opportunities and effective programme implementation also shape livelihood impact. Incorporating beneficiary perspectives brings to the fore the multi-dimensionality of CT effects on experiences of poverty and deprivation, including gender dynamics and intangibles such as dignity and respect; they add powerful realism to the influence of the CT on both immediate survival and livelihood choices. Beyond this, they confirm wider knowledge on productive impact and bring nuance to the conditions under which, and mechanisms by which beneficiaries’ use CTs to build productive capability and assets and to make strategic livelihood choices
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Qualitative research on decent rural employment and social protection: Malawi case study
This qualitative research study aims to create a better understanding of the linkages between social protection and decent rural employment (DRE) by considering whether social protection can play a role in improving the quality of employment engaged in by poor people. To do so, the research investigates the impact of Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) on DRE. The study is part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) research on the impact of social protection (SP) programmes on DRE and is led by the ‘From Protection to Production’ project (PtoP) within FAO