https://goo.gl/sZ7V7x

NIGER
Cash Transfers for Food Security and Cash for Work (under the Niger Safety Net Project
—Filet de Protection Sociale)
Programme
Cash Transfers for Food Security and Cash for Work
(under the Niger Safety Net Project—Filet de Protection Sociale)
Country
Niger
Geographic area
Sub-Saharan Africa
Previous programme name (if any)
Start date 2011 1,2
Programme objectives
To address food insecurity by providing poor households
with access to cash transfers and public work opportunities. 1,2
Programme type Unconditional cash transfers; public work—cash for work 1
Programme components Cash transfers for food security and cash for work. 1,2
Conditionalities (if any)
Though the cash transfers are unconditional, a ‘soft condition’ related
to the beneficiaries’ health and nutritional practices is imposed via the
promotion of complementary educational activities within the community. 1
Targeting methods
Cash transfers for food security: geographical targeting;
proxy means-testing; community-based targeting.
Cash for work: geographical targeting; self-targeting
Categorical Targeting criteria may apply if the demand
for work exceeds the project’s capacity. 1
Target areas Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillaberi and Zinder regions 1
Target groups The poorest and most food-insecure households. 1
Eligibility criteria
Cash transfers for food security: The poorest and most food-insecure
households were registered as beneficiaries of the programme within
the targeted regions. They were identified using data from the 2007
National Survey on Household Income and Consumption in Niger.
The proxy means-testing process also includes a questionnaire to verify
the household’s characteristics, including its housing conditions and
ownership of assets.
Cash for work: While the cash transfers component targets households
in a situation of chronic food insecurity, the cash-for-work component
is aimed at groups of beneficiaries who are in a situation of temporary
and unusual food insecurity. It, therefore, employs a self-targeting
method, conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. If the demand
for employment exceeds the project’s capacity, additional categorical
targeting criteria may apply to include the maximum number of
vulnerable households. 1
Eligibility reassessment (if any)
Type of benefits
Cash
Amount of benefits
Cash transfers for food security:
monthly transfer of XOF10,000 (USD20)
Cash for work: daily wage of XOF1,000, which is the
legal minimum wage for unskilled labour in rural areas.
This wage level is expected to be conducive to the
self-targeting strategy of the component. 1
Payment/delivery frequency
Cash transfers for food security: monthly.
Cash for work: twice a month. 1
Benefit delivery mechanism Microfinance institutions and mobile phone companies. 1
110 | Social Protection in Africa: inventory of non-contributory programmes