Summary (English)

Given the widespread poverty and vulnerability levels economic targeting of social assistance programmes is deemed to be largely ineffective in Malawi. This discussion note suggests that moving from strict targeting of ultra-poor households towards categorical targeting has the potential to be a more effective and efficient approach to beneficiary selection in Malawi. In a bid to stimulate discussions on the future of the Social Cash Transfer in Malawi, the note presents results from economic simulations of the cost and coverage of the programme under alternative categorical targeting options.