ABSTRACT
Following decades of neoliberal conditionalities on African governments, starting from the early 2000s social protection program has expanded rapidly across Africa. One of the prominent modalities for structuring social protection is cash transfer programs. At least 46 African countries have adopted some form of such initiatives. The chapter tracks the development and expansion of cash transfer programs across Africa, examining their form, scale, and scope. We explore potential reasons for policy diffusion and examine why some countries have not adopted such programs. Based upon these analyses, we reflect upon who these programs are being designed for, and, equally important, who is being left out by these designs. A key policy recommendation emanating from this is that while social protection initiatives have made important contributions, their design is based on a narrow set of factors. Such a focus suggests that certain aspects, such as power and politics, are not being considered. As a result, there is a potential for marginalization and exclusion to be replicated. A broader intersectional perspective that includes assessments of power and politics is required to ensure ‘those most behind’ do not continue to be left behind.
