🎓The Impact of Cash Transfers on Caregiving for Persons with Disabilities: A Qualitative Evaluation in Zambia and Malawi

Doctoral project at a glance

This research investigates the impact of cash transfer programs on the economic, psychological, and social well-being of caregivers of persons with disabilities in Malawi and Zambia. Caregiving responsibilities, predominantly borne by women and girls in the region, exacerbate existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. Though cash transfers are widely recognized as tools for poverty mitigation, existing literature largely emphasizes their effects on household consumption, food security, and child health. Little is known about how such interventions influence the lived experiences of caregivers. This study uses a qualitative research design to draw on semi-structured interviews with caregivers in peri-urban and rural communities in Lilongwe and Lusaka. Using the Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP) and causal mapping techniques, the project aims to identify pathways through which financial assistance affects caregiving practices and caregiver resilience, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and responsive social protection policies.
The Impacts of Cash Transfers on Caregiving for Persons with Disabilities: A Qualitative Evaluation in Zambia and Malawi

Departments and Instituts

Department of Social Policy and Social Security Studies Graduate Institute

Period

01.05.2024 to 30.04.2029

Supervising professor

Project Description

This research investigates the impact of cash transfer programs on the economic, psychological, and social well-being of caregivers of persons with disabilities in Malawi and Zambia. Caregiving responsibilities, predominantly borne by women and girls in the region, exacerbate existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. Though cash transfers are widely recognized as tools for poverty mitigation, existing literature largely emphasizes their effects on household consumption, food security, and child health. Little is known about how such interventions influence the lived experiences of caregivers. This study uses a qualitative research design to draw on semi-structured interviews with caregivers in peri-urban and rural communities in Lilongwe and Lusaka. Using the Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP) and causal mapping techniques, the project aims to identify pathways through which financial assistance affects caregiving practices and caregiver resilience, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and responsive social protection policies.

 

Doktorandin/Doktorand:

Allex Medson Mello Semba