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.

摘要

尽管关于现金转移在减少贫困方面的好处的研究越来越多，但对于受益人利用社会援助在城市地区从事生计活动的了解有限。这种定性的叙述性调查提供了经验证据，表明当现金转移与广泛的生计活动相结合时，物质和社会心理以及个人、家庭和业务成果都会得到改善。来自南非索韦托的证据为低收入和中等收入国家提供了政策和规划解决方案，可以为疫情后的应对措施提供信息，以减轻健康和生计冲击以及贫困程度的加深。