Global research into cash transfers to prevent intimate partner violence
Authors: Tia Palermo, Clare Barrington, Ana Maria Buller, Lori Heise, Melissa Hidrobo, Meghna Ranganathan, Shalini Roy
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2022)

We applaud Merike Blofield and colleagues (January, 2022)1Blofield M Knaul F Calderon-Anyosa R et al.A diagonal and social protection plus approach to meet the challenges of the covid-19 syndemic: cash transfers and intimate partner violence interventions in Latin America.Lancet Glob Health. 2022; 10: e148-e153Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar for highlighting the potential of cash transfer programmes to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the basis of our research in Latin America and other regions, we argue that the potential of cash transfers to reduce IPV is relevant globally. We also note important nuances to the points made by Blofield and colleagues, some of which are particularly relevant for other regions where the prevalence of IPV is highest. The authors limit their focus to this region, partly because Latin America's cash transfer programmes are among the most established. However, nascent cash transfer programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia also provide a unique opportunity to build integrated efforts for IPV prevention from inception. A key pathway through which cash transfers reduce IPV is by reducing poverty, and the impact is particularly strong in low-income countries. Indeed, gender-responsive social protection (including cash transfers) is key to sustainably reducing poverty. The authors focus on conditional cash transfers, noting that these programmes improve economic autonomy despite burdening women with having to fulfil conditions. We clarify that the evidence does not suggest that improvements in women's outcomes require these conditions. Unconditional cash transfer programmes have led to increased women's economic autonomy without increasing their time burden.2Bonilla J Zarzur RC Handa S et al.Cash for women's empowerment? A mixed-methods evaluation of the government of Zambia's child grant program.World Dev. 2017; 95: 55-72Crossref PubMed Scopus (39) Google Scholar Given that conditions can penalise the most marginalised households, we recommend that cash transfer programmes avoid hard conditions from the outset. The authors' Viewpoint centres on programmes targeted to women. However, cash transfers targeted to households can also reduce IPV, because cash transfers can alleviate risk factors for IPV (including poverty and associated household conflict) regardless of the transfer recipient.3Buller A Peterman A Ranganathan M Bleile A Hidrobo M Heise L A mixed-method review of cash transfers and intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income countries.World Bank Res Obser. 2018; 33: 218-258Crossref Scopus (82) Google Scholar Although targeting cash transfers to women might have additional benefits, it is not needed for cash transfers to reduce IPV. Moreover, effective case management that links households receiving cash transfers to other services can additionally reduce and respond to violence,4Botea I Coudouel A Heinemann A Kuttner S Safety first: how to leverage social safety nets to prevent gender based violence. World Bank, Washington, DC2021Google Scholar regardless of which household member is targeted for cash transfer. Blofield and colleagues1Blofield M Knaul F Calderon-Anyosa R et al.A diagonal and social protection plus approach to meet the challenges of the covid-19 syndemic: cash transfers and intimate partner violence interventions in Latin America.Lancet Glob Health. 2022; 10: e148-e153Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar call for more evidence from Latin America on cash transfers with complementary components aimed at violence reduction. We agree that more evidence is needed from Latin America, but we advocate for a broader research agenda. Through the Cash Transfer and Intimate Partner Violence Research Collaborative, we are generating mixed-methods evidence from Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and south Asia on how the impacts of cash transfer programmes are shaped by design features, complementary programming, and contextual factors, as well as whether impacts are sustained after the programme.5International Food Policy Research InstituteCash Transfer and Intimate Partner Violence Research Collaborative.https://www.ifpri.org/project/cash-transfer-and-intimate-partner-violence-research-collaborativeDate: 2021Date accessed: December 8, 2021Google Scholar We also call for evidence on cash transfers in crisis settings, which is increasingly crucial to inform programming for IPV prevention among vulnerable women globally. We declare no competing interests. A diagonal and social protection plus approach to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 syndemic: cash transfers and intimate partner violence interventions in Latin AmericaLatin America has been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 syndemic, including the associated economic fallout that has threatened the livelihoods of most families. Social protection platforms and policies should have a crucial role in safeguarding individual and family wellbeing; however, the response has been insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. In this Viewpoint, we focus on two policy challenges of the COVID-19 syndemic: rapidly and effectively providing financial support to the many families that lost livelihoods, and responding to and mitigating the increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). Full-Text PDF Open Access