Cash Transfer Grants in South Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five South Africans were going to bed hungry. The country had implemented a strict lockdown, and millions of casual workers lost their jobs. The existing food parcel distribution system was overwhelmed, the economic crisis required an urgent policy response. Based on evidence from previous research on cash transfers in Kenya and working closely with research colleagues and civil servants in South Africa, CSAE researchers advised the South African government to shift their approach and give large unconditional cash transfers to households across the country. These policy changes continued after the pandemic keeping 2 million people out of severe poverty every month.