Policy highlights:

• The Social Cash Transfer Pilot Programme (SCTPP) in Ethiopia aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable children, older people, and people with disabilities. Research found that the programme improves household food security and reduces hunger, but has modest effects on schooling and asset formation.
• To ensure there are enough resources for the programme, in terms of material and personnel, initiators should invest in formalization of the programme structure and in capacity strengthening activities.
• A challenge for all initiators of social protection interventions is the tension between providing transfers to a large number of beneficiaries (but with lower levels of transfers) and restricting the number of beneficiaries (but with higher transfers). If the goal of the programme is to reach all those who need transfers and have meaningful impacts, budgets need to be set accordingly.