What are social transfers? Policy Brief, Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme RHVP undated

As the first in a series, this brief introduces the concept of social transfers.

It answers the question "What exactly do we mean by ‘social transfers’?  in a clear and succinct manner.

In summary, the paper indicates that what we mean is social assistance provided by public and civic bodies to those living in poverty or in danger of falling into poverty. This ‘social assistance’ can be cash or it can be a number of other things, or a combination. The important point, though, is that the social transfers that we refer to in this case are ‘predictable’ i.e. they are paid or distributed regularly: not as a reaction to a crisis, but as a pre-emptive initiative to allow recipients to prepare for and protect themselves in an effective way against unforeseeable catastrophes. The brief provides a short description of some examples of programmes in Southern Africa