In recent years, a number of cash transfer programmes have been implemented in various countries, most notably in Latin America. Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes like PROGRESA in Mexico and Bolsa Escola in Brazil, which transfer cash to poor households on condition that they send their children to school or clinic have demonstrated significant impact in improving household consumption, and increasing school enrolment and uptake of basic health services. This evidence has encouraged low-income countries to pilot social transfer programmes but as most of the literature notes, important questions remain about the effectiveness of these programmes in different conditions and in countries with weak administrative capacity and limited financial resources. There are also additional concerns about implementing conditionality in African countries where ‘supply-side’ issues, such as the quality of education and health services, may need to be improved first.
