Targeting in social protection systems: comparative study on two “HEA” methods and a “PMT” targeting method for cash transfer programmes in Gao circle, Mali, 2016-17

Social safety nets are becoming a key instrument of povery reduction policies in Sub-Saharan Africa; they are a basic element of social protection systems that include adaptive social protection. Social protection systems aim to target both chronically poor households and those who are slightly better off but vulnerable to shocks and who can easily fall into cyclical food insecurity. In most cases, the discussion on the construction of social protection systems leads to the study of the differences between targeting methods used in social safety net programmes.

This study aims at exploring the effectiveness of the different targeting methods used in Mali to identify poor and food-insecure households, and at formulating recommendations for their improvement and for identifying potential bridges. It also aims to better understand the acceptance and perception of the methods by communities.

The governance mechanisms for each targeting method are identified and described, as well as the constraints they place on the quality of targeting.
The quality of the two methods are evaluated with regard to the risks of exclusion/ inclusion errors associated to each method and the opportunities to challenge the results.

This document is a summary. The whole study is available in French.