Livelihood activities and well-being outcomes of cash transfer beneficiaries in Soweto, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Despite a growing body of research on the benefits of cash transfers in reducing poverty, limited knowledge exists of beneficiaries' usage of social assistance to pursue livelihood activities in urban areas. This qualitative narrative enquiry provides empirical evidence that when cash transfers are combined with a wide range of livelihood activities, then material and psychosocial as well as personal, household, and business outcomes are improved. Evidence from Soweto, South Africa, provides policy and programmatic solutions for low- and middle-income countries which can inform post-covid responses to mitigate health and livelihood shocks and the deepening of poverty levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Developmental policies
• < aid
• labour and livelihoods
• poverty reduction < labour and livelihoods
• participation < civil society
• capacity development < aid

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 It is a “soft requirement” because it is neither enforced nor does receipt of CT depend on it.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Chibuikem C. Nnaeme

Chibuikem C. Nnaeme is a postdoctoral fellow at South African Research Chair of Social Policy, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa. He previously worked at the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg. His research interests include cash transfers, social protection, agency, livelihoods, and informal economy.

Leila Patel

Leila Patel is the Professor of Social Development Studies and the South African Research Chair in Welfare and Social Development, University of Johannesburg. Her research interests are in social protection, social welfare, children and youth, and gender and care in the Global South.

Sophie Plagerson

Sophie Plagerson is a senior researcher at the Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Past projects include research on social protection and social justice, mental health, and state-citizen relations.