DFID social transfers evaluation. Summary report

This report is a summary of the evaluation of DFID's social-transfer programmes. Broad lines can be drawn based on those experiences. Firstly, projects are increasingly bottom-up. As such, the report suggests that needs assessments should be carried out more often. Second, no conclusion can be reached to know whether conditionality should be used in social-transfer programmes. Furthermore, the level and the regularity of transfers are key elements of such programmes' effectiveness. Targeting is also a major issue, although it is a very difficult one which should be carefully implemented and monitored, on the basis of the "acceptable error" principle.

Most DFID social-transfer projects have contributed to improving household food security and/or reducing poverty severity (not in absolute terms). Programmes' impact on economic growth (either positive or negative) was weak, however. In terms of recommendations, the report argues that DFID should clarify its objectives, some of which are incompatible (promotion of its own vision versus national project ownership). Moreover, there should be more quantitative impact assessments carried out. Finally, there is a need for overcoming the debate on "dependence" of communities towards those schemes.

M. Davies IDS, DFID - July 2009