Effect of cash transfers on achievement of selected sustainable development goals among female-headed households in Siaya county, Kenya

Abstract

Poverty, hunger and lack of access to clean water and sanitation is high among developing economies derailing achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Cash transfers provide social protection to the vulnerable. Kenya’s Inua Jamii programme issues CTs to Orphans and Vulnerable children, Persons living with Severe Disability and Old Persons. The main objective of this study was to establish the effect of cash transfers on achievement of selected SDGs among female-headed households in Siaya County. The three specific objectives were to determine the effect of cash transfers on poverty reduction, hunger reduction and increasing access to clean water and sanitation among female-headed households in Siaya County. Numerous literature on cash transfers and SDGs among female-headed households point towards a significant effect of CTs on reducing poverty, reducing hunger and improving access to clean water and sanitation. The study was founded on the Household Welfare Theory which suggests income and consumption as the best measurements of household welfare. The target population was 109,680 female-headed households in Siaya County and sample size of 399 FHHs using the Yamane formula. A correlational design was adopted to study the relationship between cash transfers and SDGs. Data was collected using a structured interview schedule. Reliability and validity of data instruments was tested during the pilot study and results found to be consistent with final study. A binary logit regression analysis of data collected revealed that increasing cash transfer by 1% had a significant negative effect on poverty rate by 1.58%. The coefficient of income was (-0.686) with p value of (0.01). Consumption had no significant effect on poverty reduction. The second objective analysed cash transfer to have a coefficient (-1.212) and p value (0.004). Increasing cash transfer among by 1% significantly reduces probability of a FHH experiencing hunger by 1.2%. More frequency of meals and balanced diet in the household reduces hunger level. On the third objective, the positive coefficients of cash transfers (1.196), source of water and proper sanitation (2.703) prove that the increasing cash transfers by 1% increased access to clean water and sanitation by 1.196% and 2.703% respectively. Conclusion was drawn that cash transfers had a significant effect on overall achievement of SDGs and further study can be done on nutritional outcomes. The study recommended more targeted approach in inclusion of female-headed households with special consideration to household size. Other interventions can also be used to have far reaching effects of cash transfers on reducing hunger and access to water and sanitation health.