Targeting Social Transfer Programmes: Comparing Design and Implementation Errors Across Alternative Mechanisms. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sabates‐Wheeler, Rachel; Hurrell, Alex; Devereux, Stephen
• Is Part Of: Journal of international development. Volume 27:Number 8(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1521
• Page End: 1545
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: targeting -- social transfers -- errors -- kenya; Economic development projects -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Foreign economic relations -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; 330.91724
• DOI: 10.1002/jid.3186
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-1748

Abstract

Abstract: An innovative cash transfer programme in northern Kenya is the first of its kind to trial three targeting mechanisms to learn about which approach is most effective at identifying the poorest households while minimising inclusion and exclusion errors. Analysing data collected through a randomised controlled trial, we conclude that community‐based targeting is the most accurate of the three approaches, followed by categorical targeting by age and household dependency ratio. However, targeting performance is strongly affected by implementation capacity and modalities. Through a simulation exercise, we show that a proxy means test would have performed better than single categorical indicators. © 2015 UNU‐WIDER. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.