The South African state awards unconditional means-tested cash transfers to the caregivers of some eight million poor children. Amidst increasing demands on the state for social assistance, the question has been asked: should the Child Support Grant (CSG) be made conditional on education or health related behaviour to enhance its effectiveness? Issues relating to the popular Latin American conditional cash transfer programmes for children are summarised. The history, current reach and impact of the CSG are described, as well as administrative strengths and weaknesses in delivery. We argue that, to be in line with South Africa’s Constitution, the structural problems of the supply side of education and health provision should be addressed, as well as problems with the delivery of the CSG, rather than considering whether to impose conditionalities that could further exclude poor children and their caregivers from this modest but vital form of support.

Formal safety nets redistribute resources to poor people to reduce chronic poverty or to protect them agains risks to their livelihoods - risks posed by disease, loss of employment, drought, conflict, financial crises, or macroeconomic adjustment, for example. Safety nets can both reduce poverty in the short term and, when coupled with the longer-term approach taken by social protection programs, contribute simultaneously to a broader development strategy. But in order to achieve both short- and long-term goals effectively, policymakers much take up new approaches that involve partnerships between government and civil society.

This study tested an economic intervention to reduce HIV risks among AIDS-orphaned adolescents. Adolescents (n=96) were randomly assigned to receive the intervention or usual care for orphans in Uganda. Data obtained at baseline and 12-month follow-up revealed significant differences between the treatment and control groups in HIV prevention attitudes and educational planning.

This is the second of four case studies examining social transfers to OVC in Swaziland. Such social transfers began in the early 2000s as a response to rapidly rising numbers of AIDS orphans as well as rising vulnerability in the population at large, due to a combination of adverse factors and trends.

Some MFIs are finding ways to team up with existing safety net programs in hopes of making themselves at least indirectly useful to the poorest. Some safety net and grant programs are deliberately providing financial training and information to their clients so that their clients can subsequently link with MFIs. In other words, people who benefit from safety net programs may "graduate" to become full-fledged microfinance clients. This Focus Note discusses two basic models of linkages between MFIs and safety net programs.

CGAP Focus Note #34.