Is there a rationale for conditional cash transfers for children in South Africa?

Abstract

The South African state awards unconditional means-tested cash transfers to the caregivers of some eight million poor children. Amidst increasing demands on the state for social assistance, the question has been asked: should the Child Support Grant (CSG) be made conditional on education or health related behaviour to enhance its effectiveness? Issues relating to the popular Latin American conditional cash transfer programmes for children are summarised. The history, current reach and impact of the CSG are described, as well as administrative strengths and weaknesses in delivery. We argue that, to be in line with South Africa's Constitution, the structural problems of the supply side of education and health provision should be addressed, as well as problems with the delivery of the CSG, rather than considering whether to impose conditionalities that could further exclude poor children and their caregivers from this modest but vital form of support.

Geração bolsa família escolarização, trabalho infantil e consumo na casa sertaneja (Catingueira/PB)

“…55,72;Bradshaw e Víquez, 2008, p. 827). Nesse sentido, não seriam as condicionalidades, mas o dinheiro que faz a diferença (Lund et al, 2009;Bradshaw e Víquez, 2008, p. 827). Seria possível, então, atingir os mesmos níveis de frequência escolar e acompanhamento médico dispensando as condicionalidades (De Britto, 2008, p. 189)?…”

Child Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Call for a Rights-Based Global Research Agenda

“…Researchers, academics, politicians and analysts in the field argue that there is a need to undertake detailed studies on child rights and child poverty in the sub-Saharan African context (Ashiabi, 2007;Barnes et al, 2009;Barrientos & DeJong, 2006;Black, Morris & Bryce, 2003;Camfield, 2010;Dawes et al, 2007;Dinbabo, 2011;Gordon et al, 2003;Grodem, 2008;Levine, Van der Berg & Yu, 2011;Lund et al 2009;Lund et al, 2008;Meintjes & Hall, 2009;Noble et al, 2007;Noble, Wright & Cluver, 2006;Tekola et al, 2009). The following section provides a brief summary of selected literature in the field.…”

“…In South Africa Lund et al (2009) undertook a study of conditional cash transfers and of issues relating to the implementation of the unconditional Child Support Grant. Their research examined the implication of conditional cash transfers in depth.…”

“…Many analysts Gordon et al, 2003;Grodem, 2008;Lund et al, 2008;Noble et al, 2007;Noble, Wright and Cluver, 2006) have suggested a combination of monetary and deprivation approaches to assess child poverty. As the shortcomings of traditional definitions of and approaches to child poverty measurements have become more apparent, Noble et al (2007), in the historical context of South Africa, proposed a multidimensional model of child poverty.…”

Effects of Household Size on Cash Transfer Utilization for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Rural Ghana

“…Additionally, while the conditionality of cash transfer schemes is believed to enable individual households take responsibility of beneficiary children (Lund et al, 2009), cultural beliefs and practices can influence how cash is utilised at the household level. The nature of family living in most Ghanaian communities could affect the extent to which conditional cash transfers are utilised for beneficiary children.…”