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Direct cash transfers are transforming lives for women in rural Kenya, offering financial freedom and improved health outcomes. For women like Claris Pendo, this money provided an escape from her exhausting charcoal work, allowing her to invest in livestock and secure her family’s food supply. A landmark study by the National Bureau of Economic Research confirms these personal stories, showing that such transfers slashed infant mortality by nearly half, an impact rivaling major health interventions like vaccines and antimalarial drugs. The success stems from trusting recipients to do what is best for themselves and their families, rather than dictating how to use it. This model not only empowers women to rest during pregnancy but also injects life into local economies, boosting sales for shopkeepers and creating a ripple effect of prosperity.
The Guardian