Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Evaluating a Cash Transfer program in reducing poverty in female-headed households in Nganunu Village, Zimbabwe

Auteur : Fadiji, Grace Tsitsi

Université de soutenance : North-West University

Grade : MSc (Sociology) 2022

Résumé partiel
Most female-headed households are in general impoverished in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. This situation has worsened over the years due to sharp economic challenges experienced by these households. Much of the lack for economic means is concentrated in rural communities where food insecurity and poverty have become an impediment to development. Although a lot of developmental programmes have been initiated and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa, women have been affected by historical patriarchal injustices through culture and tradition that dominate, oppress and exploit them. Furthermore, the socio-economic and political crises in Zimbabwe have resulted in extreme poverty and the female-headed families are no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated poverty and food insecurity in rural households. This sudden shock was not anticipated and many governments failed to sustain livelihoods for smallholder farmers who relied solely on farming activities and selling farm produce. As the state support taking place and rolled back amidst the COVID-19 crisis, non-governmental organisations assisted vulnerable communities through interventions such as the cash transfer program to help alleviate ultra-poverty. However, there is lack of empirical evidence with respect to the effectiveness and impact of such interventions targeting female-headed households in rural areas. This study sought to evaluate a Cash Transfer program in reducing ultra-poverty in female-headed households in Nganunu Village, Zimbabwe. The feminisation of poverty and the social protection frameworks were used in this study to help understand the role of the cash transfer in addressing poverty among female-headed households in this study. A qualitative approach was used to evaluate the experiences of female-headed households in the Adventist Development Relief Agency cash transfer Program. Seven in-depth interviews with beneficiaries and Key informants and 3 focus group discussions with 5 participants were conducted and these participants were purposively selected. These techniques were used to gain insights on the experiences of the female-headed households in Nganunu village. Data was analysed through thematic content analysis and presented in themes. The participants helped to reveal that despite the political, health and economic crises experienced in Zimbabwe, the cash transfer program was effective in cushioning ultra-poverty in most female headed households against the above mentioned crises. Some of the key achievements of the programme include increased household income, increasing agricultural productivity and food security and quality of life for female-headed households.

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