Summary (English)

Over the past decade, an increasing number of developing country governments, working with donors and NGOs, have been implementing cash transfer programmes – regular transfers of cash to individuals or households. These programmes are united by common assumptions: that income poverty has a highly damaging impact on people’s health and nutrition, and that cash empowers poor individuals and households to make their own decisions on how to improve their lives.

This report examines three key questions:

• What contribution can cash transfers make to reducing child mortality?
• What are the broader economic benefits of investing in cash transfers?
• How can child-focused cash transfers be affordable in developing countries?