Cash transfers programmes are increasingly being recognised for their potential to reduce poverty and achieve other social goals, such as improved health and education. Evidence from Malawi and Tanzania suggests that cash transfers can impact HIV-related behaviours and outcomes and, therefore, could serve as an important component of HIV prevention efforts.
This paper reviews existing evidence on cash transfers for HIV prevention and provides suggestions for future research. The identified gaps include (1) understanding more about the mechanisms and pathways through which cash transfers affect HIV-related outcomes; (2) addressing key operational questions, including the potential feasibility and the costs and benefits of different models of transfers and conditionality; and (3) evaluating and enhancing the wider impacts of cash transfers on health and development.
The author concludes that future studies should build on current findings to close the identified knowledge gaps and to collect additional evidence on the impacts of transfers in different settings. Finally, the author argues that in order for cash transfer programmes to be sustainable they need to be integrated with other sectors and programmes that address structural factors such as education and programming to promote gender equality and address HIV.
Adapted from authors’ summary.