Innocenti Research Briefs The Importance of Understanding and Monitoring the Effects of Cash Transfer Programmes on Child Labour and Education: Findings from Malawi. A Policy Brief Published: 2018 Innocenti Research Briefs The Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) has been demonstrated to have a wide range of positive effects on beneficiary households, including an expansion of household agricultural business activities. This brief summarizes the results of two studies which examine whether households rely on children to expand their agricultural businesses. The studies confirm that children support the expansion of household agricultural activities and conclude that the SCTP increases overall child engagement in economic activities. However, working hours are generally moderate and other child wellbeing indicators such as school participation and physical health improve. This suggests that the SCTP nevertheless plays a positive role in the lives of children. These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of cash transfers on children’s wellbeing and highlight the importance of monitoring the possible impact on child labour of programmes – such as graduation strategies – that encourage the expansion of household entrepreneurial activities. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 6 | Thematic area: Social Policies | Tags: agricultural enterprises, cash transfers, child labour, household income × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2018 The Importance of Understanding and Monitoring the Effects of Cash Transfer Programmes on Child Labour and Education: Findings from Malawi. A Policy Brief. , pp. 6.
Innocenti Research Briefs Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme: A comprehensive summary of impacts Published: 2018 Innocenti Research Briefs This brief provides a comprehensive summary of the main impacts and related policy implications generated by Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme between 2013 and 2015, including positive impacts on poverty, income multipliers, food security, productivity, education and health + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 8 | Tags: cash transfers, child education, child health, child poverty, evaluation, food security, household food security × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2018 Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme: A comprehensive summary of impacts. , pp. 8.
Innocenti Research Briefs Growing Inequality and Unequal Opportunities in Rich Countries AUTHOR(S) Emilia Toczydlowska; Zlata Bruckauf Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Inequality can have wide-ranging effects on communities, families and children. Income inequality (measured through the Gini index) was found to have an association with higher levels of peer violence in 35 countries (Elgar et al. 2009) and to influence the use of alcohol and drunkenness among 11- and 13-year olds (Elgar et al. 2005). On a macro level, countries with greater income inequality among children have lower levels of child well-being and higher levels of child poverty (Toczydlowska et al. 2016). More worrying still is that growing inequality reinforces the impact of socio-economic status (SES) on children’s outcomes, limiting social mobility. Concern about growing inequality features prominently on the current international development agenda. Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls specifically to reduce inequality within and among countries, while the concept of ‘leaving no one behind’ reflects the spirit of greater fairness in society. But with a myriad of measures and definitions of inequality used in literature, the focus on children is often diluted. This brief contributes to this debate by presenting child-relevant distributional measures that reflect inequality of outcomes as well as opportunity for children in society, over time. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 5 | Thematic area: Economic Development, Social Policies | Tags: inequality, SDGs, socio-economic status × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Emilia Toczydlowska; Zlata Bruckauf 2017 Growing Inequality and Unequal Opportunities in Rich Countries. , pp. 5.
Innocenti Research Briefs Exploring Women's Empowerment through Asset Ownership and Experience of Intimate Partner Violence AUTHOR(S) Audrey Pereira; Amber Peterman; Kathryn Yount Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread globally, with an estimated one-third of women aged 15 years and over experiencing physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner during their lifetimes. Economic empowerment, or the financial standing of women, is often thought to protect against IPV, signalling sufficient economic autonomy to leave abusive situations or to prevent abuse. Asset ownership is one measure of economic empowerment, and can convey substantial agency as a wealth store, especially for large productive assets, such as agricultural land or home ownership. Despite the important implications of IPV reduction for policy and programming, evidence of this relationship is scarce.We hope this research will advance our global understanding of this potential. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 3 | Thematic area: Social Policies | Tags: assets, ownership, violence against women, women's empowerment × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Audrey Pereira; Amber Peterman; Kathryn Yount 2017 Exploring Women's Empowerment through Asset Ownership and Experience of Intimate Partner Violence. , pp. 3.
Innocenti Research Briefs The Transformative Impacts of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Evidence from two government programmes in Zambia AUTHOR(S) Luisa Natali Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Unconditional cash transfers are on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, with recent estimates indicating a doubling of programmes between 2010 and 2014. This brief provides an overview of the comprehensive impacts across eight domains of two unconditional cash transfer programmes implemented by the Zambian Government: The Child Grant Programme (CGP) and the Multiple Category Targeting Programme (MCP). Although the primary objective of these programmes is poverty mitigation rather than economic empowerment, we document protective and productive outcomes in order to assess whether these programmes generate transformative effects and have the potential to offer a sustained pathway out of poverty for poor households. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 3 | Thematic area: Economic Development | Tags: cash transfers, poverty alleviation × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Luisa Natali 2017 The Transformative Impacts of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Evidence from two government programmes in Zambia. , pp. 3.
Innocenti Research Briefs The State of Evidence on Social Cash Transfers in Africa: Transfer Project Workshop Brief 2017 AUTHOR(S) Michelle Mills; Gean Spektor; Max Terzini Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs The annual workshop of the Transfer Project, “The State of Evidence on Social Cash Transfers in Africa” focused on new challenges arising from moving from fragmented programmes to integrated social protection systems, combining cash transfers with complementary (also referred to as ‘plus’) interventions, as well as the assessment of social protection in emergency contexts.This year’s workshop was organized through the Transfer Project by the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC), in Dakar, Senegal, from 7 to 9 June 2017. Approximately 125 social protection experts and stakeholders from over 30 countries gathered for the workshop to review the rigorous evidence from impact evaluations across Africa. In recognition of the complexity of this work and the continued growth of cash transfer programmes globally, the workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, and development partners to debate, discuss and reflect on current experiences, new evidence and future directions. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 4 | Thematic area: Economic Development | Tags: cash transfers × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Michelle Mills; Gean Spektor; Max Terzini 2017 The State of Evidence on Social Cash Transfers in Africa: Transfer Project Workshop Brief 2017. , pp. 4.
Innocenti Research Briefs Gender Socialization during Adolescence in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Conceptualization, influences and outcomes AUTHOR(S) John A. Neetu; Kirsten Stoebenau; Samantha Ritter; Jeffrey Edmeades; Nikola Balvin Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs This brief summarizes the key insights and conclusions from a discussion paper on gender socialization during adolescence, with a focus on low- and middle-income settings. By reviewing theories from psychology, sociology and biology, significant societal changes and effective programme interventions, the paper sets out to provide a more holistic picture of the influences and outcomes of gender socialization for adolescent programming and policy. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 6 | Thematic area: Adolescents, Gender Issues | Tags: adolescents, gender analysis, socialization × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION John A. Neetu; Kirsten Stoebenau; Samantha Ritter; Jeffrey Edmeades; Nikola Balvin 2017 Gender Socialization during Adolescence in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Conceptualization, influences and outcomes. , pp. 6.
Innocenti Research Briefs Myth-busting? How research is refuting common perceptions about unconditional cash transfers AUTHOR(S) Amber Peterman; Jennifer Yablonski; Silvio Daidone Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Six common perceptions associated with cash transfers are investigated using data from eight rigorous evaluations of government unconditional cash transfer programmes across seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The evidence refutes each claim. Used in policy debates, these perceptions undermine well-being improvements and poverty reduction, in Africa and globally. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 4 | Thematic area: Economic Development × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Amber Peterman; Jennifer Yablonski; Silvio Daidone 2017 Myth-busting? How research is refuting common perceptions about unconditional cash transfers. , pp. 4.
Innocenti Research Briefs Is University Education More Important for a Boy than for a Girl? Social approval of unequal educational opportunity across 21 countries AUTHOR(S) Yekaterina Chzhen; Zlata Bruckauf Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs The attitudes that we hold are shaped and nurtured by society, institutions, religion and family; they involve feelings, beliefs and behaviours and represent a form of judgement. These attitudes and values define the power relations, dynamics, opportunities and choices between men and women, boys and girls. Societies vary significantly in the scale of egalitarian attitudes and beliefs related to gender roles and opportunities in education, politics, the family, and the workforce. Progress towards more egalitarian gender values is crucial for achieving gender equality among children and young people, which in turn is a pre-condition for sustainable development. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 6 | Thematic area: Adolescents, Education, Gender Issues | Tags: education, education of girls, gender issues × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Yekaterina Chzhen; Zlata Bruckauf 2017 Is University Education More Important for a Boy than for a Girl? Social approval of unequal educational opportunity across 21 countries. , pp. 6.
Innocenti Research Briefs Adolescents’ Mental Health: Out of the shadows. Evidence on psychological well-being of 11-15-year-olds from 31 industrialized countries AUTHOR(S) Zlata Bruckauf Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Mental health is increasingly gaining the spotlight in the media and public discourse of industrialized countries. The problem is not new, but thanks to more open discussions and fading stigma, it is emerging as one of the most critical concerns of public health today. Psychological problems among children and adolescents can be wide-ranging and may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), disruptive conduct, anxiety, eating and mood disorders and other mental illnesses. Consistent evidence shows the links between adolescents’ mental health and the experience of bullying. Collecting internationally comparable data to measure mental health problems among children and adolescents will provide important evidence and stimulate governments to improve psychological support and services to vulnerable children. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 4 | Thematic area: Adolescents, Health | Tags: adolescent health, child mental health, child psychology × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Zlata Bruckauf 2017 Adolescents’ Mental Health: Out of the shadows. Evidence on psychological well-being of 11-15-year-olds from 31 industrialized countries. , pp. 4.
Innocenti Research Briefs Quality of Childcare and Pre-Primary Education: How do we measure it? AUTHOR(S) Zlata Bruckauf; Nóirín Hayes Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Early childhood development is a driving force for sustainable development due to its multiplier effects not only on children but also on the community and society at large. Access to ECEC alone is insufficient for achieving positive child outcomes – it must also be of high quality. This Brief aims to summarize the key points of ongoing debate on this issue, and outline some of the challenges faced by high-income countries. A step towards a more holistic monitoring of ECEC would be to develop a coherent national strategy that recognizes diversity while addressing disparities; to respond to the needs of both child and family through strong partnerships with parents and ECE practitioners; and to apply measurement tools that capture a child’s engagement rather than test readiness. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 4 | Thematic area: Early Childhood, Education | Tags: access to education, child care, child care services, childhood education × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Zlata Bruckauf; Nóirín Hayes 2017 Quality of Childcare and Pre-Primary Education: How do we measure it?. , pp. 4.
Innocenti Research Briefs Children’s Involvement in Housework: Is there a case of gender stereotyping? Evidence from the International Survey of Children's Well-Being AUTHOR(S) Zlata Bruckauf; Gwyther Rees Published: 2017 Innocenti Research Briefs Evidence from national studies in developed and developing countries suggests that girls spend more time on housework. The most common explanation relates to behaviour modelling as a mechanism of gender role reproduction: children form habits based on parental models. This brief shows that participation in household chores is an essential part of children’s lives. There is a common pattern of a gender gap between boys’ and girls’ daily participation in housework across a diverse range of socio-economic and cultural contexts in 12 high-income countries. The persistence of this gap points to gender stereotyping – a form of gender role reproduction within a family that potentially can reinforce inequalities over the life-course. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 3 | Thematic area: Child well-being, Child Work and Labour | Tags: child well-being, gender equality, household surveys, households, learning, socialization of children × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Zlata Bruckauf; Gwyther Rees 2017 Children’s Involvement in Housework: Is there a case of gender stereotyping? Evidence from the International Survey of Children's Well-Being . , pp. 3.