The World Bank has revealed that the conditional cash transfer program initiated by the Federal Government has shown limited effectiveness in boosting household consumption, financial inclusion, and employment, particularly among women.
In its latest report titled “Beta Don Come: Effects of Cash Transfers on Women and Households in Nigeria,” the Bretton Woods institution underscored the need for complementary livelihood support to ensure sustainable improvements in households’ self-sufficiency.
The report referenced the 2016 launch of the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) by the Federal Government, wherein households received a cash transfer of N5,000 disbursed as a lump sum every two months, primarily directed to the household’s primary caregiver, who were predominantly women.
Despite observing positive impacts on several dimensions of households’ and women’s welfare over time, including increased household savings, food security, access to farmland, and livestock ownership, the report noted limited effects on overall household consumption, employment, and financial inclusion among caregivers.
While households participating in the program showed increased savings and diversification of cash usage away from household consumption, there were no significant effects observed on overall household consumption or caregivers’ employment and financial inclusion.
The World Bank emphasized the importance of program participation duration, indicating that households experiencing longer-term involvement in the program demonstrated greater positive outcomes. These outcomes included enhanced decision-making autonomy for caregivers regarding income spending and increased physical mobility.
However, despite the efficacy of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, the report highlighted a lack of evidence regarding the program’s impacts on participants, suggesting a need for further evaluation and targeted interventions to address existing limitations.