In sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region in the world, the number of cash transfer programs has doubled in the last five years and reaches close to 50 million people. This paper examines the impact of these programs and the extent to which they offer a sustained pathway out of ultra-poverty.
Zambia’s Child Grant cash transfer program provides grants directly to poor households with children under five years old. A four-year study shows that this unconditional cash transfer has proven to be an effective approach to alleviating extreme poverty and empowering households to improve their standard of living in a way ...
The relationship between happiness and income has been at the center of a vibrant debate, as emotional states are an important determinant of health and social behavior. This study investigated whether a government-run unconditional cash transfer paid directly to women in poor households had an impact on self-reported happiness. ...
A Child Grant cash grant program for households with children under five in three districts in Zambia generated positive impacts, both in terms of immediate needs of the family and children's health, and in longer term productivity.