Comparing food and cash transfers to the ultra poor in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has some social safety net programs that transfer food to the poor, some that transfer cash, and some that provide a combination of both.

This study evaluates the relative impacts of food and cash transfers on food security and livelihood outcomes among the ultra poor in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on four interventions.

The programs impacts are evaluated according to various measures:

• how well transfers are delivered
• which transfers beneficiaries prefer
• how accurately the programs target the extremely poor
• effects on food security, livelihoods, and women's empowerment
• cost effectiveness.

The report identifies what has and has not worked in food and cash transfers and recommends ways of improving these programs. The evaluation assesses the operational performance of food or cash transfer delivery, beneficiary preferences for the form of transfers, the accuracy of targeting, the impacts of program participation on food security, livelihood, and gender-related outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness of transfers.

IFPRI - 2009