In 2007, UNICEF and Save the Children UK convened a meeting entitled - Advancing Policy Relevant Research Around Social Welfare Services. In response to the 2007 meeting, UNICEF Child Protection section commissioned three policy-relevant systematic reviews examining the relationship between cash transfers and social welfare services.
The reviews collated evidence which summarized a) the efficacy of cash transfer initiatives on child outcomes including child protection outcomes; b) the potential contact opportunities within cash transfer programmes for linkages with social welfare services; c) common barriers and challenges faced by beneficiaries across a range of cash transfer programmes; d) the role of the education sector in providing social welfare services where school attendance is an explicit outcome objective in the provision of cash.
The reviews collated evidence which summarized a) the efficacy of cash transfer initiatives on child outcomes including child protection outcomes; b) the potential contact opportunities within cash transfer programmes for linkages with social welfare services; c) common barriers and challenges faced by beneficiaries across a range of cash transfer programmes; d) the role of the education sector in providing social welfare services where school attendance is an explicit outcome objective in the provision of cash.
Between April 22-24, 2009 social welfare and cash transfer experts gathered in Carmona Spain to examine the results of the reviews. Meeting delegates explored the findings with a specific focus on integration of social welfare services and cash transfers in Ghana, Chile, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Kenya.
Their findings were compiled into a joint communiqué issued by the meeting participants. The systematic reviews, alongside advocacy briefs on what the findings mean for policy, practice and future research, will be published in a special issue of the Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies journal later this year.
