Targeting Social Transfer Programmes: Comparing Design and Implementation Errors Across Alternative Mechanisms

Sabates‐Wheeler, Rachel; Hurrell, Alex; Devereux, Stephen

doi:10.1002/jid.3186

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…This reinforces that we cannot expect ‘a linear exchange relationship between the distribution of benefits and citizens' delegation of authority’, but rather that ‘program outcomes and state‐society relations shape one another in sometimes unexpected ways’ (Alik‐Lagrange et al, 2021, 153). In particular, the visibility of the state ‘in official program discourse and local narratives may be consequential for whether citizens perceive welfare benefits as part of their rights as citizens or simply as a form of externally provided aid’ (Alik‐Lagrange et al, 2021, 166; see also Kabeer, 2014; Plagerson et al, 2012; Sabates‐Wheeler et al, 2015). In this context, as described above, though externally funded, the program centred the government in official program materials, while the cash transfers were channelled to citizens through the government.…”

Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social protection, community participation and state‐citizen relations: Evidence from a cash transfer program in south‐central Somalia

van den Boogaard,

Santoro,

Walker

2023

Soc Policy Adm

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We investigate whether social protection programs can increase participation in community‐driven development programs and examine how this affects state‐citizen relations. Using a randomized controlled trial in south‐central Somalia, we study the impacts of one‐time unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households that were specifically designed to encourage participation in community development. While the cash transfer is relatively small as a share of annual household expenditure, it is more than sufficient to cover households' anticipated community development contributions. The transfers were funded by an NGO but delivered through state institutions. We collect survey data before and after the intervention with almost 600 individuals eligible to receive cash transfers. We find no substantial differences in participation in community development projects for cash transfer recipient households relative to non‐recipient households. However, we do find positive impacts of the cash transfers on citizen perceptions of clan elders and the local government. Our findings suggest that relatively small social protection interventions may face challenges in increasing vulnerable households' participation in community development and decision‐making, while also highlighting potential positive spillover effects for state‐citizen relations and beliefs about the capacity of local institutions where states institutions are involved in program delivery, even if they do not finance the program.

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Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social protection, community participation and state‐citizen relations: Evidence from a cash transfer program in south‐central Somalia

van den Boogaard,

Santoro,

Walker

2023

Soc Policy Adm

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“…The randomized control study of Sabates‐Wheeler et al () in this Special Issue assesses various targeting mechanisms to learn lessons about which approach is most effective at minimizing inclusion and exclusion errors in the context of a cash transfer programmes. They conclude that community‐based targeting is more accurate than categorical targeting by age or household composition.…”

Section: Sector and Budget Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aid, Social Policy and Development

Addison

Niño‐Zarazúa

Tarp

2015

J of Intl Development

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This paper discusses past and current social policy strategies in the international aid architecture as an introduction to the UNU-WIDER Special Issue. Beginning in the 1990s, aid strategy and policy shifted to put a stronger emphasis on human development. This accelerated with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will continue under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have even more ambitious targets. The paper also assesses some of the concerns associated with the 'Paris-style' aid modalities, and discusses major challenges for the future global development agenda.

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“…using demographic, sociocultural or geographic characteristics), direct targeting (using proxy means), self‐targeting and community‐based targeting (community members select beneficiaries) . Each of these methods involves trade‐offs in accuracy and costs . Proxy means targeting (PMT) – deemed the most accurate but also costly to execute – is a commonly used method in LMICs .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting subsidised inpatient services to the poor in a setting with limited state capacity: proxy means testing in Myanmar's hospital equity fund scheme

Htet

Ludwick

Mahal

2019

Tropical Med Int Health

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Objectives Many low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) provide subsidised access to health services for the poor. Proxy means tests (PMTs) for income are typically employed to identify eligible beneficiaries for subsidised services but often result in significant mistargeting of benefits. We assessed the PMT approach used in Myanmar's hospital equity fund (HEF). Methods We analysed inclusion/exclusion errors by comparing household eligibility under the PMT used for HEF with household consumption (the gold standard proxy for income in LMICs). We assessed receipt of benefits post‐hospitalisation against HEF eligibility rules and household income. Focus groups/interviews were conducted to understand administrative factors that influence targeting. We modelled (linear regression) predictors of household consumption to improve PMT accuracy. Results We found large targeting errors (86% of households in the bottom consumption quartile would be excluded and 15% of households in the top consumption quartile deemed eligible). HEF scores for PMT held little explanatory power for household income: 93% of individuals meeting the HEF eligibility criteria did not receive benefits post‐hospitalisation, while 23% of ineligible individuals received programme support. Re‐weighting PMT indicators on electricity access, land ownership and livestock ownership, and assigning weights to home‐ownership, households with elderly/disabled members and household head education levels could significantly improve targeting accuracy. Poor programme awareness and uneven adherence to official eligibility determination procedures among staff likely affected targeting. Conclusions Re‐weighting PMT indicators and increasing training and communication about qualification procedures could improve allocation of limited funds, though accurate targeting may continue to be challenging in contexts of low state capacity.

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Targeting Social Transfer Programmes: Comparing Design and Implementation Errors Across Alternative Mechanisms

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Social protection, community participation and state‐citizen relations: Evidence from a cash transfer program in south‐central Somalia

Social protection, community participation and state‐citizen relations: Evidence from a cash transfer program in south‐central Somalia

Aid, Social Policy and Development

Targeting subsidised inpatient services to the poor in a setting with limited state capacity: proxy means testing in Myanmar's hospital equity fund scheme

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