3 - Targeting Practices and Biases in Social Cash Transfers: Experiences in Rural Malawi
Corresponding Author(s) : Ignasio M. Jimu
Africa Development,
Vol. 43 No. 2 (2018): Africa Development
Abstract
Social cash transfer (SCT) programmes involve direct financial support to vulnerable households. Vulnerability, as a social condition, is often correlated with low income and food insecurity. Cash transfers augur well with neoliberal welfarism in contrast to the traditional relief approach associated with food-based safety nets. The aim of this article is to examine targeting processes and its challenges in Malawi. Proxy indices of ultra-poverty used in the design of SCT programmes are correlated in some way to parameters such as gender, education, structure of livelihoods and type of durable assets owned by beneficiaries. The data demonstrates that beneficiaries tend to be women and persons with very little or no formal education. The authors argue that gender and education are critical parameters that are easier to determine and apply with reduced scope for bias for identifying vulnerable groups and with valuable lessons for replication of success nationwide.
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- Chinsinga, B., 2009, Political Economy of Cash Transfers in Malawi, report prepared for the Overseas Development Institute, London, http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/4695-cash-transfers-political-economy-malawi.
- Coady, D., Grosh, M., and Hoddinott, J., 2004, ‘Targeting outcomes redux’, World Bank Research Observer 19 (1): 61–85.
- Conning, J., and Kevane, M., 2002, ‘Community-based targeting mechanism for social safety nets: a critical review’, World Development 30 (3): 375–94.
- Devereux, S., 2002, ‘Can social safety nets reduce chronic poverty?’, Development Policy Review 20 (5): 657–75.
- Fiszbein A., Schady, N., Francisco, H.G., Ferreira, M.G., Kelleher, N., Olinto, P. and Skoufias, E., 2009, Conditional Cash Transfers: Reducing Present and Future Poverty, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank, Washington DC.
- Gregory, C.A., and Altman, J.C., 1989, Observing the Economy, London: Routledge. Handa, S., and Davis, B., 2006, ‘The experience with conditional cash transfers in Latin America and the Caribbean’, Development Policy Review 26 (5): 513–36.
- Hypher, N., and Veras, F., 2012, ‘Does community-based targeting really work in cash transfer programmes in Africa?’, One Pager, No. 148. The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, Brazil.
- Innovative Minds, 2011, School Feeding and Cash Transfer Project: Chimanimani and Muzarabani Districts, End of Project Evaluation Report, Save the Children. Kalebe-Nyamongo, C., and Marquette, H., 2014, ‘Elite Attitudes Towards Cash Transfers and the Poor in Malawi’, The Developmental Leadership Program (DLP), International Development Department, School of Government and Society, College of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham, Research Paper 30.
- Jimu, I.M., 2016, Moving in Circles, Bamenda: Langaa RCIG.
- Lawson, M., Cullen, A., Sibale, B., Ligomeka, S. and Lwanda, F., 2001, Targeted Inputs Programme (TIP): Findings of the Monitoring Component for TIP 2000–2001, a monitoring study commissioned for the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Government of Malawi by the UK Department for International Development, available at http://www.rdg.ac.uk/ssc/workareas/development/malawi/tip1mon.pdf.
- Matandiko, P., 2010, ‘Social Cash Transfers: How are they Contributing to Rural Livelihoods: The Case of Kalomo Social Cash Transfer Scheme’, research paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for obtaining the degree of Masters of Arts in Development Studies, Graduate School of Development Studies, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Miller, C.M., Tsoka, M., and Reichert, K., 2008, Impact Evaluation Report External Evaluation of the Mchinji Social Cash Transfer Pilot, a report prepared by the Center for International Health and Development (CIHD) Boston University for the Government of Malawi, USAID and UNICEF Malawi.
- Miller, C.M., Tsoka, M., and Reichert, K., 2010, ‘Targeting cash to Malawi’s ultra- poor: a mixed methods evaluation’, Development Policy Review 28 (4): 481–502.
- McCord, A., 2009, Cash transfers and political economy in sub-Saharan Africa, Project Briefing No. 31, Overseas Development Institute.
- Narotzky, S., 1997, New Directions in Economic Anthropology, London: Pluto Press.
- Redko, A., 2013, Community-Based Conditional Cash Transfer Impact Evaluation 2009, Baseline Survey, Tanzania National Data Archive (TNADA), http://www.nbs.go.tz/tnada/index.php/catalog.
- Republic of Malawi, 2012, National Social Support Policy, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
- Ressler, P., 2008, The Social Impact of Cash Transfers: A Study of the Impact of Cash Transfers on Social Networks of Kenyan Households Participating in Cash Transfer Programs, Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security International Food Policy Research Institute.
- Sahlins, M., 1974, Stone Age Economics, London: Tavistock Publications.
- Samson, M., 2009, Social Cash Transfers and Pro-Poor Growth, Promoting Pro-Poor Growth: Social Protection, OECD.
- Save the Children (UK), HelpAge International and Institute of Development Studies, 2005, Making Cash Count: Lessons from Cash Transfer Schemes in East and Southern Africa for Supporting the Most Vulnerable Children and Households.
- Slater, R. and Farrington, J., 2009, Targeting of Social Transfers: A Review for DFID, Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
- Soares, F.V., 2009, ‘Do Conditional Cash Transfers Lessen the Impact of the Current Economic Crisis? Yes But…’, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, United Nations Development Programme, One Pager Number 96, September, Brazil.
- Zezza, A., de la Briere, B., and Davis, B., 2010, The impact of social cash transfers on household economic decision making and development in eastern and southern Africa, available at https://www.afdb.org/en/aec-2010/papers/the-impact-of-social-cash-transfers-on-household-economic-decision-making-and-development-in-eastern-and-southern-africa/.
References
Chinsinga, B., 2009, Political Economy of Cash Transfers in Malawi, report prepared for the Overseas Development Institute, London, http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/4695-cash-transfers-political-economy-malawi.
Coady, D., Grosh, M., and Hoddinott, J., 2004, ‘Targeting outcomes redux’, World Bank Research Observer 19 (1): 61–85.
Conning, J., and Kevane, M., 2002, ‘Community-based targeting mechanism for social safety nets: a critical review’, World Development 30 (3): 375–94.
Devereux, S., 2002, ‘Can social safety nets reduce chronic poverty?’, Development Policy Review 20 (5): 657–75.
Fiszbein A., Schady, N., Francisco, H.G., Ferreira, M.G., Kelleher, N., Olinto, P. and Skoufias, E., 2009, Conditional Cash Transfers: Reducing Present and Future Poverty, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank, Washington DC.
Gregory, C.A., and Altman, J.C., 1989, Observing the Economy, London: Routledge. Handa, S., and Davis, B., 2006, ‘The experience with conditional cash transfers in Latin America and the Caribbean’, Development Policy Review 26 (5): 513–36.
Hypher, N., and Veras, F., 2012, ‘Does community-based targeting really work in cash transfer programmes in Africa?’, One Pager, No. 148. The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, Brazil.
Innovative Minds, 2011, School Feeding and Cash Transfer Project: Chimanimani and Muzarabani Districts, End of Project Evaluation Report, Save the Children. Kalebe-Nyamongo, C., and Marquette, H., 2014, ‘Elite Attitudes Towards Cash Transfers and the Poor in Malawi’, The Developmental Leadership Program (DLP), International Development Department, School of Government and Society, College of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham, Research Paper 30.
Jimu, I.M., 2016, Moving in Circles, Bamenda: Langaa RCIG.
Lawson, M., Cullen, A., Sibale, B., Ligomeka, S. and Lwanda, F., 2001, Targeted Inputs Programme (TIP): Findings of the Monitoring Component for TIP 2000–2001, a monitoring study commissioned for the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Government of Malawi by the UK Department for International Development, available at http://www.rdg.ac.uk/ssc/workareas/development/malawi/tip1mon.pdf.
Matandiko, P., 2010, ‘Social Cash Transfers: How are they Contributing to Rural Livelihoods: The Case of Kalomo Social Cash Transfer Scheme’, research paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for obtaining the degree of Masters of Arts in Development Studies, Graduate School of Development Studies, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Miller, C.M., Tsoka, M., and Reichert, K., 2008, Impact Evaluation Report External Evaluation of the Mchinji Social Cash Transfer Pilot, a report prepared by the Center for International Health and Development (CIHD) Boston University for the Government of Malawi, USAID and UNICEF Malawi.
Miller, C.M., Tsoka, M., and Reichert, K., 2010, ‘Targeting cash to Malawi’s ultra- poor: a mixed methods evaluation’, Development Policy Review 28 (4): 481–502.
McCord, A., 2009, Cash transfers and political economy in sub-Saharan Africa, Project Briefing No. 31, Overseas Development Institute.
Narotzky, S., 1997, New Directions in Economic Anthropology, London: Pluto Press.
Redko, A., 2013, Community-Based Conditional Cash Transfer Impact Evaluation 2009, Baseline Survey, Tanzania National Data Archive (TNADA), http://www.nbs.go.tz/tnada/index.php/catalog.
Republic of Malawi, 2012, National Social Support Policy, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
Ressler, P., 2008, The Social Impact of Cash Transfers: A Study of the Impact of Cash Transfers on Social Networks of Kenyan Households Participating in Cash Transfer Programs, Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security International Food Policy Research Institute.
Sahlins, M., 1974, Stone Age Economics, London: Tavistock Publications.
Samson, M., 2009, Social Cash Transfers and Pro-Poor Growth, Promoting Pro-Poor Growth: Social Protection, OECD.
Save the Children (UK), HelpAge International and Institute of Development Studies, 2005, Making Cash Count: Lessons from Cash Transfer Schemes in East and Southern Africa for Supporting the Most Vulnerable Children and Households.
Slater, R. and Farrington, J., 2009, Targeting of Social Transfers: A Review for DFID, Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
Soares, F.V., 2009, ‘Do Conditional Cash Transfers Lessen the Impact of the Current Economic Crisis? Yes But…’, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, United Nations Development Programme, One Pager Number 96, September, Brazil.
Zezza, A., de la Briere, B., and Davis, B., 2010, The impact of social cash transfers on household economic decision making and development in eastern and southern Africa, available at https://www.afdb.org/en/aec-2010/papers/the-impact-of-social-cash-transfers-on-household-economic-decision-making-and-development-in-eastern-and-southern-africa/.