The role of an unconditional social cash transfer intervention in strengthening or weakening social capital : a case study of Goromonzi and Epworth in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Social cash transfers (SCTs) are part of social protection instruments aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability. SCTs are among the most evaluated social protection interventions. Most designs and much of the current evidence give limited attention to effects of SCTs on social capital. Greater attention has been devoted to economic and human capital outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore and analyse the effects of Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT) on social capital in a rural and a peri-urban settlement. To achieve this, the study first identified and analysed design and operational features of the HSCT. The analysis drew from the perspectives and experiences of beneficiaries and other stakeholders. The study was based on a mixed methods design. The theoretical framework was informed by social capital and social network theories. The results confirm and in other cases contradict findings from previous research, and there are areas where new insights were found. The results indicate that HSCT’s features particularly targeting and selection methods, complementary services and the payment method have effects on social capital. Additionally, findings indicate that the HSCT affected a diverse set of social relations with positive effects on bonding and linking social capital. There are positive psychosocial effects, limited evidence on bridging social capital, and inconclusive results on collective action. The HSCT seems to strengthen trust between beneficiaries but has negative effects on social relations between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Social networks created through the HSCT are exclusionary. There were isolated cases of domestic violence in some households. The HSCT has unintended effects particularly the exclusion of some beneficiary households from access to other benefits; women’s empowerment; and social and economic risks to beneficiaries. Evidence from this study confirms that unconditional cash transfers go well beyond their primary goal of consumption smoothing, and have positive and negative effects on social capital. This provides a strong case for the design and implementation of SCTs to embed explicit objectives and strategies that promote the strengthening of social capital. There is greater need for collaborative efforts between economists, sociologists and anthropologists in the design and analysis of SCTs.