On 7 November 2018, the German Development Institute/ Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungs-politik (DIE) organised a PEGNet Expert Meeting on the “Effects of social cash transfers on the different dimensions of poverty” in co-operation with the  European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). Daniele Malerba and Christoph Strupat (both DIE) gave a short introductory presentation on “Poverty and cash transfers: what are the current trends?”. After that, four keynote speakers presented the ample evidence that exists today on the multiple positive effects of social cash transfers schemes on health, education, income poverty, equality, nutrition and local economic development: Armando Barrientos (University of Manchester) held a presentation on “Social assistance and poverty reduction”, Francesco Burchi (DIE) on “Cash Transfers for food and nutrition security”, Franziska Gassmann (University of Maastricht) on “Cash transfers and inclusive growth: the role of social pensions” and Jacobus de Hoop (UNICEF Office of Research) on the “Effects of Social Cash Transfers on Education Outcomes”.

Stefanie Ruff (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development/ BMZ) opened the second part of the meeting with a presentation on the current role of social cash transfers in the portfolio of German development co-operation. After that, Markus Loewe (DIE) gave a presentation on “What consequences for development policy?” in order to trigger a subsequent panel discussion on the future role of social cash transfers in international development policies. Most participants concluded that international donors should provide more support than in the past to the setting-up of social cash transfer schemes in low and middle income countries.

The expert meeting on 7 November 2018 at the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) in Bonn was meant to

1. provide participants with an over­view on the empirical evidence that we have so far on the effects of different kinds of social cash transfers schemes on the multiple dimensions of poverty at least. It provides an opportunity for policy makers and researchers
2. to discuss which kind of social cash transfer scheme is best at reducing different dimensions of poverty. Moreover, it provides room for all participants to
3. develop a common understanding of the implications of the existing empirical evidence for future policy making.

Schedule:

Welcome Note

DIE, EADI and PEGNET

The key role of social cash transfers for human, economic, societal and political development

• Francesco Burchi, DIE
• Markus Loewe, DIE
• Daniele Malerba, DIE
• Christoph Strupat, DIE

Social cash transfers are a key instrument for poverty reduction but can also be effective in promoting education, health, nutrition and other aspects of human development. But under which conditions? What is the status of scientific knowledge so far?

• Armando Barrientos, University of Manchester
• Francesco Burchi, DIE
• Franziska Gassmann, University of Maastricht
• Jacobus de Hoop, UNICEF Office of Research

Q&A

Structured discussion
What consequences for development policy?

• Francesco Burchi, DIE
• Markus Loewe, DIE
• Daniele Malerba, DIE
• Christoph Strupat, DIE
• Susanne von Itter, EADI

Concluding notes