Results highlight the potential of direct cash support programs to save lives and offer insights to the Alliance’s Fast Track plans.
A large-scale study in Kenya has revealed that providing a one-time cash transfer of US$1,000 to families living in poverty reduced infant deaths by 48%, one of the largest reductions ever recorded for a poverty reduction program. The research, led by experts from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Oxford, tracked more than 100,000 births in rural areas in partnership with the organization GiveDirectly.
Findings show that immediate financial support enabled pregnant women to reduce strenuous physical activity in late pregnancy, improve nutrition, and access health services, leading to more hospital deliveries and higher newborn survival rates. Among babies under 30 days old, mortality dropped by as much as 63%.
Another key insight is that the positive effects were even greater when transfers were made shortly before delivery and in communities closer to physician-staffed health facilities. This demonstrates that cash transfers should not replace but rather complement investments in healthcare systems, amplifying their impact by facilitating access to health services.
The study reinforces that poverty is one of the main determinants of child survival and that direct cash transfers should be considered a strategic tool in tackling preventable deaths. As researchers point out, giving mothers cash can be one of the most effective ways to save children’s lives, on par with other types of health interventions. Cash transfers are also able to generate an economic multiplier.
For the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, this study provides critical insights for the existing Fast Track implementation plans, particularly those related to cash transfers and child assistance, underscoring the importance of evidence-based solutions to accelerate the end of hunger and child mortality.
