Social protection programs are not introduced in a vacuum and it is important to understand what effects such programs have on existing informal support networks of family, friends and community members. A social cash transfer may reduce receipt of informal financial support, which can water down part of the program’s impact. However, cash transfers can also reduce barriers to social participation and enable participants to engage in reciprocal support systems. We use data from the quasi-experimental mixed method impact evaluation of Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) 1000 program, a social cash transfer program for pregnant women and mothers of children under one year living in poverty, to estimate program effects on social support and participation. Using a difference-in-differences approach we find that LEAP 1000 increases overall social support, as well as both emotional and instrumental support. In addition, program beneficiaries are more likely to participate in community groups. In in-depth interviews, participants confirmed increased support with descriptions of improved access to financial markets, such as borrowing money or contributing to local savings schemes, and strengthening of social participation in local groups and gatherings. Beneficiary women also highlighted reduced need for economic support and new opportunities to support others.

By creating opportunities for additional social support within the household and community, LEAP 1000 crowded-in support, rather than reducing existing sources of support or crowding-out support.

社会保护计划并不是凭空引入的，重要的是要了解这些计划对现有的家庭，朋友和社区成员的非正式支持网络有什么影响。社会现金转移可能会减少对非正式财务支持的接收，这可能会削弱该计划的部分影响。但是，现金转移还可以减少社会参与的障碍，并使参与者能够参与对等支持系统。我们使用来自加纳的生计扶贫（LEAP）1000计划的准实验混合方法影响评估的数据（LEAP 1000计划是一项针对孕妇和生活在贫困中的1岁以下儿童的母亲的社会现金转移计划），以评估该计划对社会支持的影响和参与。使用差异中的方法，我们发现LEAP 1000增加了总体社会支持以及情感和工具支持。此外，计划受益人更有可能参加社区团体。在深入的采访中，与会人员确认增加了对金融市场准入的描述，例如借钱或为当地的储蓄计划做出了贡献，并加强了对当地团体和聚会的社会参与，从而增加了对他们的支持。受益妇女还强调了对经济支持的需求减少，以及支持他人的新机会。与会者确认增加了对金融市场准入的描述，例如借钱或为当地储蓄计划捐款，以及加强了社会对当地团体和集会的参与，从而增加了支持。受益妇女还强调了对经济支持的需求减少，以及支持他人的新机会。与会者确认增加了对金融市场准入的描述，例如借钱或为当地储蓄计划捐款，以及加强了社会对当地团体和集会的参与，从而增加了支持。受益妇女还强调了对经济支持的需求减少，以及支持他人的新机会。

通过为家庭和社区内的其他社会支持创造机会，LEAP 1000拥挤的支持，而不是减少现有的支持或拥挤的支持。