Table 1.

Some notable examples of cash transfer programs in developing countries that have not been evaluation using randomized trial design

Brazil

Bolsa Família:

Overview: Bolsa Família is one of the largest and most well-known conditional cash transfer programs globally. It provides financial aid to low-income families, with conditions such as ensuring children attend school and receive vaccinations.

Impact: Studies have shown significant improvements in child health outcomes, reductions in poverty rates, and increased school attendance. The program has also contributed to reducing inequality in Brazil.

Mexico

Oportunidades/Prospera:

Overview: Initially launched as Progresa, this conditional cash transfer program was later renamed Oportunidades and then Prospera. It targets poor households with financial assistance tied to health check-ups, nutrition, and educational attendance.

Impact: The program has been associated with improvements in child nutrition, school enrollment rates, and reductions in stunting. It also contributed to long-term poverty reduction and better health outcomes.

Kenya

Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP):

Overview: HSNP is an unconditional cash transfer program targeting vulnerable populations in Northern Kenya, focusing on poverty alleviation and improving food security.

Impact: The program has been linked to reduced poverty and improved food security. It has also increased household resilience to shocks, such as drought, by providing a safety net.

South Africa

Child Support Grant (CSG):

Overview: The CSG is an unconditional cash transfer program providing financial assistance to low-income families with children. It aims to reduce child poverty and improve child welfare.

Impact: The grant has been associated with improved child nutrition, increased school attendance, and reductions in poverty among beneficiaries. It has also contributed to better health outcomes for children.

Ethiopia

Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP):

Overview: PSNP is a large-scale social protection program that combines cash transfers with public works employment. It aims to reduce food insecurity and build household resilience.

Impact: The program may have led to improvements in food security, increased agricultural productivity, and better household resilience to economic shocks. It has also contributed to poverty reduction in targeted areas.

Ghana

Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP):

Overview: The LEAP program, launched in 2008, is an unconditional cash transfer initiative targeted at extremely poor households in Ghana. The program primarily supports orphans and vulnerable children, elderly people without support, and persons with severe disabilities.

Impact: LEAP has been associated with several positive outcomes, including reductions in poverty and food insecurity. Beneficiaries have shown improvements in health-seeking behavior, school enrollment, and retention for children. Additionally, the program has helped households increase their consumption and build resilience against economic shocks. While LEAP has made significant strides in improving immediate welfare indicators, challenges remain in achieving sustained long-term impacts on poverty and health outcomes. The program has been part of a broader strategy to strengthen Ghana’s social protection framework.

Bangladesh

Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP):

Overview: The EGPP is a public works program that provides short-term employment to extremely poor and vulnerable households during the agricultural lean season, when job opportunities are scarce. While the primary form of support is employment, the program includes cash transfers as wages for the work performed.

Impact: The EGPP may have had a significant positive impact on poverty alleviation and food security among the poorest segments of the population. It may have helped to stabilize incomes during the lean season, reducing the need for distress sales of assets and improving household food consumption. Although primarily focused on economic outcomes, the EGPP indirectly contributes to improved health outcomes by enabling poor households to afford better nutrition and access healthcare services.

Old Age Allowance Program:

Overview: The Old Age Allowance Program is an unconditional cash transfer initiative aimed at providing financial support to elderly citizens in Bangladesh who do not have a regular source of income. This program is part of Bangladesh’s broader social protection strategy to reduce poverty among the elderly.

Impact: The program may have had a positive impact on reducing poverty among elderly beneficiaries, improving their ability to meet basic needs, including food, healthcare, and shelter. It also enhances the social status and security of older individuals in their communities.

Vulnerable Group Development (VGD):

Overview: The VGD program is a large-scale social safety net initiative that combines food assistance with cash transfers and skills development for women living in extreme poverty. Beneficiaries receive food rations and a small cash stipend, along with training to improve their income-generating capabilities.

Impact: The VGD program may have been successful in improving food security, nutritional status, and economic empowerment among its female beneficiaries. It has also contributed to reductions in poverty and enhanced resilience against economic shocks.