SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS AND OUTCOMES: COMPARING MALE AND FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN T/A MAGANGA IN SALIMA DISTRICT

Abstract

The popularity of social cash transfers as an initiative designed to alleviate poverty has grown worldwide. One of the key questions regarding implementation of this intervention is criteria for identifying recipients, including gender considerations. There are variations in theoretical and empirical evidence regarding the relationship between gender and outcomes of cash transfer. This paper examines this relation in Malawi where the programme targets ultra-poor and labour-constrained households and the recipient is head of a household regardless of gender. Mainly it focuses on two key questions: whether cash transfers have differentiated outcomes if the designated recipient is a man or woman, and whether female-headed households use cash transfers differently from male-headed households. The study was guided by the sociological and psychological theory of consumer behaviour. The study employs mixed methods with quantitative paradigm being the dominant method. The key finding is that there are no significant differences in education, health and food security outcomes and use of cash transfers except in accumulation of some assets. Therefore, the paper argues in line with Duflo (2000) that care must be taken when generalizing the significance of gender factor because it is subject to many factors, including cultural context.