Cash transfers are conceptually, regular non-contributory payments of money provided by government or non-government organizations to individuals or households. Many schemes are designed around payments to families, often the women, with the objective of decreasing chronic or shock-induced poverty, addressing social risks and reducing economic vulnerability (see, for example, DFID, and IDS, Devereux, 2005). They are increasingly recognized by National governments and the international community as a social protection tool furthering progress towards the Millenium Development Goals.

"The Commission for Africa identifies social transfers as a key tool in tackling extreme poverty in sub-Sahran Africa. The greater use of social transfers in developing countries worldwide is endorsed by the World Bank's World Development Report for 2006 which recognizes their potential impact on poverty and inequality as well as their contribution to promoting and distributing growth" (DFID, 2005).

It is possible to differentiate two main types of social transfer programmes:

• Unconditional cash transfers, that are paid without specific conditionalities by the transfer provider (government or NGOs);
• Conditional cash transfers, or cash for human development programmes, that are paid subject only if the recipients meet specific conditions. Many schemes are designed around so-called 'public works', where the beneficiaries contribute their labour towards a particular scheme (see, for example, A. McCord).

Designing a scheme of social cash transfers involves many aspects. Key questions must be answered, need information about the institutional and policy context of the country. The process is outlined in the flow-chart developed in Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes.