Cash Transfer ProgrammeResearch into cash transfers provided to households caring for orphans and other vulnerable children has shown the positive effects such programmes can have on the health and education of children living in middle-income countries, but as yet there is little data on their effects in low-income countries. A community randomised trial is being carried out, in Manicaland, to investigate the effects of cash transfers on the wellbeing of children living in vulnerable households.
In the evaluation, 30 communities have been randomised to receive one of three programmes: a conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme - where conditions are attached to the cash transfers to ensure that child beneficiaries are sent to school and access basic health services; an unconditional cash transfer (CT) programme; or basic agricultural assistance (the control programme). Census questionnaires will be used to evaluate the effects of the cash transfers on school attendance, vaccination status and birth registration. The baseline census was conducted in September 2009, before the cash transfer programmes began, and a follow-up survey to provide data for the final evaluation, has been scheduled for November 2011. Further work will also be done to evaluate the sustainability and comparative cost-effectiveness of conditional and unconditional cash transfers in Manicaland. Selected publications Robertson, L., Mushati, P., Skovdal, M., Eaton, J., Makoni, JC., Crea, T., Mavise, G., Dumba, L., Schumacher, C., Sherr, L., Nyamukapa, C., Gregson, S.: Can the involvement of community members in the selection of beneficiaries improve the targeting of cash transfer programs? World Development. 2014: 54: 325–337 | free access Robertson L, Mushati P, Eaton J, Dumba L, Mavise G, Makoni JC, Schumacher C, Crea T, Monasch R, Sherr L, Garnett GP, Nyamukapa CA, Gregson S. Effects of unconditional and conditional cash transfers on child health and development: a cluster-randomised trial in Zimbabwe. The Lancet. 2013; 381(9874): 1283-1292 | free access Skovdal, M., Robertson, L., Mushati, P., Nyamukapa, C., Sherr, L., Gregson, S.: Acceptability of conditions in a community-led cash transfer programme for orphaned and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe Health Policy and Planning, 2014: | free access Skovdal, M., Mushati, P., Robertson, L Munyati, S., Sherr, L., Nyamukapa, C., Gregson, S.: Social acceptability and perceived impact of a community-led cash transfer programme in Zimbabwe. BMC Public Health, 2013: 13:342 | free access |
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