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Observational Study
. 2015 Feb;18(2):343-51.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980014000378. Epub 2014 Mar 28.

The role of unconditional cash transfers during a nutritional emergency in Maradi region, Niger: a pre-post intervention observational study

Bridget Fenn  1 , Garba Noura  2 , Victoria Sibson  3 , Carmel Dolan  4 , Jeremy Shoham  4
Affiliations
Observational Study

The role of unconditional cash transfers during a nutritional emergency in Maradi region, Niger: a pre-post intervention observational study

Bridget Fenn et al. Public Health Nutr. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of an unconditional cash transfer (CT) implemented as part of an emergency response to food insecurity during a declared state of emergency.

Design: Pre-post intervention observational study involving two rounds of data collection, i.e. baseline (April 2012) and final survey (September 2012), on the same cohort of 'poor' and 'very poor' households enrolled by Save the Children in an unconditional CT programme.

Setting: Aguié district, Maradi, Niger.

Subjects: Households with a non-acutely malnourished child aged 6-36 months (n 412).

Results: The study showed that the living standards of 'poor' and 'very poor' households improved, as indicated by a reduction in poverty-related indicators and an improvement in household food security. Anthropometric outcomes for children aged 6-36 months improved significantly, despite a decline in child health and women's well-being and autonomy. Risk factors for becoming acutely malnourished post-intervention were being from a very poor household at baseline, starting the lean season with low weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ <-1) and the presence of co-morbidity.

Conclusions: The results of the study are consistent with the published evidence regarding the general impact of CT and suggest it is plausible that giving cash during an emergency can help safeguard living standards of the very poor and poor. While improvements in childhood nutrition status were seen it is not possible to attribute these to the CT programme. However, knowledge of the risk factors for acute malnutrition in a particular setting can be used to influence the design of future CT interventions for which a controlled trial would be recommended if feasible.

Keywords: Cash transfers; Emergency response; Niger; Nutrition emergency; Pre–post intervention study.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual framework for understanding causal pathways for cash transfers (HH, household; HFIAS, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale; HDDS, household dietary diversity score; CDDS, child dietary diversity score; IYCF, infant and young child feeding; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; CT, cash transfer)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) category over time (formula image, April 2012; formula image, September 2012) among non-acutely malnourished children aged 6–36 months (n 412) in a pre–post intervention observational study on the role of unconditional cash transfers during a nutritional emergency in Aguié district, Maradi region, Niger
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Department for International Development (2011) DFID Cash Transfers Evidence Paper. London: DFID.
    1. Manley J, Gitter S & Slavchevska V (2012) How Effective are Cash Transfer Programmes at Improving Nutritional Status? A Rapid Evidence Assessment of Programmes’ Effects on Anthropometric Outcomes. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.
    1. Leroy JL, Ruel M & Verhofstadt E (2009) The impact of conditional cash transfer programmes on child nutrition: a review of evidence using a programme theory framework. J Dev Effect 1, 103–129.
    1. Independent Evaluation Group (2011) Evidence and Lessons Learned from Impact Evaluations on Social Safety Nets. Washington, DC: World Bank.
    1. Gaarder M, Glassman A & Todd J (2010) Conditional cash transfers and health: unpacking the causal chain. J Dev Effect 2, 6–50.

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