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Social protection for the poor: lessons learnt from recent international experience

What works best for targeting social protection for the poor?

Authors: S. Devereux
Publisher: Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK, 2002

Full text of document

This paper synthesises current thinking and evidence on a number of issues around the design and impact of social protection programmes, including:

  • the case for and against targeting resource transfers;
  • alternative approaches to targeting;
  • what form resource transfers should take (cash, food, agricultural inputs);
  • the 'crowding out' debate;
  • cost-efficiency of transfer programmes; whether thse programmes meet the real and articulated needs of their 'beneficiaries';
  • impacts on poverty and vulnerability, and fiscal and political sustainability.

[author's abstract]