Do ‘Cash-Plus’ Transfer Programmes Empower Women Economically?

Do ‘Cash-Plus’ Transfer Programmes Empower Women Economically?  

At the conference "Feminist Economics Responses and Imaginations for the Future", which took place from 3 to 5 July 2024 at Sapienza University in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presented the article entitled "Do ‘Cash-Plus’ Transfer Programmes Have an Effect on Women's Economic Empowerment? Evidence from Combined Social Protection and Rural Development Interventions in Lesotho". The paper, written by Rumbidzai Ndoro, Silvio Daidone and Erdgin Mane, examines the impact of combining cash transfers with rural development interventions on women's empowerment in Lesotho. 

Key Objectives and Findings 

The main objective of the study was to investigate how social protection programmes, particularly cash transfers, influence farmers' attitudes towards risk and their subsequent willingness to make productive investments. The research focused on understanding the causal impact of these combined interventions on women's and men's empowerment, identifying which components of empowerment contribute most to overall outcomes. 

Context of Lesotho 

Lesotho has made considerable progress in legislating for the empowerment of women. Despite legal advances, women in rural areas of Basotho face significant obstacles when it comes to achieving full economic participation. There is a significant gap between the legal framework and its implementation, leaving many women unaware of their rights or unable to exercise them effectively. Systemic barriers remain, including limited access to farming land, livestock and financial resources. Cultural practices still often require women to seek men's consent for land-related transactions, which is contrary to legal requirements. 

Challenges  

The economic situation in Lesotho remains difficult for women in rural areas. Although agriculture is a key sector, only 16 percent of rural women report that agriculture is their main occupation, compared to 49 percent of rural men. Women are also disproportionately burdened with unpaid domestic and care work. They spend 15.6 percent of their time on these tasks, in stark contrast to the 6.2 percent that men spend on them.