ELLA Spotlight on Knowledge: Spotlight on Publications: Citizen Oversight of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes
ELLA is the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America programme
Abstract
Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) – a Latin American innovation – have now gained fame around the world for their effectiveness in promoting human development, fighting poverty and reducing inequality. CCTs are social programmes that provide families with direct cash transfers, as well as other support, such as nutritional supplements and educational assistance, in exchange for complying with certain health- and education-promoting behaviours, such as sending children for medical check-ups and attending school regularly. Like most social programmes, though, CCTs are vulnerable to corruption and misuse of funds, such as local public officials or leaders manipulating beneficiary selection or using the transfers to achieve political support. In Latin America, oversight initiatives have been developed, through which beneficiaries get engaged to oversee the appropriate delivery of the programme. This spotlight presents selected publications that illustrate and analyse a variety of experiences in which citizen participation is improving oversight of CCT programmes in the Latin American context.
Citation
Perron, M. ELLA Spotlight on Knowledge: Spotlight on Publications: Citizen Oversight of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes. ELLA, Practical Action Consulting, Lima, Peru (2012) 3 pp.