Politics, Public Policy and Social Protection in Africa

Africa is now in a much-improved position to support its poor and vulnerable people. It has more money, more policy commitment and abundant intervention programmes. Yet the number of citizens living lives of desperation, or at risk of destitution, is at an all-time high, and still rising. What is turning such positive prospects into such a disappointing result? This book reveals key answers, drawing on empirical studies of cash transfer programmes in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. The studies uncover the motives of donors, politicians and the poor themselves and why governments are not expanding the donor-driven pilot programmes as expected.