Effects of cash transfer programmes on household asset levels in rural Tanzania: A case of Merya ward in Singida rural district
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The cash transfer programmes (CTPs) are critical for improving household asset accumulation and economic stability in rural Tanzania. The aims of the given research were two-fold: first, to determine the impact of cash transfer programmes on household asset accumulation in Merya ward, Singida rural District, Tanzania; and second, to interpret the wider significance of the results for the design and execution of future cash transfer programmes. The research was a cross-sectional study conducted from January through April of 2025. There were 400 households in the final sample (200 beneficiaries and 200 non-beneficiaries). Household surveys and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 randomly selected beneficiary households. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data, whereas the difference-in- differences (DID) estimation was applied to quantitative data. The findings indicate strong effects of cash transfers on the households in terms of agricultural equipment (mean value 550,000 TZS vs. 300,000 TZS, p=0.001), livestock (700,000 TZS vs. 450,000 TZS, p=0.005), savings (350,000 TZS vs. 150,000 TZS, p=0.010), and housing values (1 Methodological shortcomings are a cross-sectional study design, which restricts causal inference and long-term sustainability; possible selection bias; absence of external validity due to specific conditions of Merya ward; use of retrospective baseline measures; and no systematic measure of dependency. However, the results are vital for the inclusion of cash transfers in social protection policies to address sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic empowerment in rural Tanzania and similar contexts.
Source: African Journal of Social Issues
Institution: Institute of Rural Development Planning
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7131352182