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Targeting Cash to Malawi's Ultra‐Poor: A Mixed Methods Evaluation
Author(s) -
Miller Candace M.,
Tsoka Maxton,
Reichert Kathryn
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7679.2010.00493.x
Subject(s) - inefficiency , cash transfers , cash , process (computing) , scheme (mathematics) , public economics , key (lock) , resource (disambiguation) , business , development economics , economics , economic growth , computer science , macroeconomics , microeconomics , computer security , mathematical analysis , computer network , mathematics , operating system
Governments target transfers so that limited resources reach impoverished households; targeting errors therefore indicate inefficiency in resource use and inability to reach the poorest households. This article examines the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Scheme (SCTS), using mixed methods and multiple data sources, including examination of underlying assumptions, the operationalisation of key concepts, questions of implementation, and errors of inclusion and exclusion. Despite serious challenges, the scheme's error rates are within the range of global averages. Its impressive impacts provide strong motivation for improving the targeting process before it is scaled up to the national level.