MICROFINANCE EVENT: Discussion on Global Assets Project policy brief, “Savings-Linked Conditional Cash Transfers: A New Approach to Global Poverty Reduction,” by Jamie Zimmerman and Yves Moury

Gateways to Global Poverty Reduction and Financial Inclusion: Linking Savings and Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs)

April 29, 2009, 9:30am-11:00am EST, New American Foundation Head Office, 1899 L Street NW, Washington DC, 4th Floor

The New America Foundation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan public policy institute, will host a discussion on the new Global Assets Project policy brief, “Savings-Linked Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs): A New Approach to Global Poverty Reduction.” The policy brief, published April 2009 by the New America Foundation, was written by Jamie M. Zimmerman, Deputy Director of the Global Assets Project, and Yves Moury, Chief Executive Officer South African financial services company Edge Finance. CCT Programs (p3) are government subsidized anti-poverty strategies that offer economic assistance to individuals or households based on behavioral conditions. The conditions aim to encourage behaviors such as regular school attendance and health checkups for children; pre and post-natal care for pregnant women; participation in job training courses; or participation in community development projects or community services. Traditionally, the economic assistance has been delivered in person in the form of cash or food aid (p7). However, the policy brief makes the case for delivering CCTs through government to person (G2P) cash transfers (p4) directly into savings accounts as a two-pronged strategy of more efficiently supplementing income and building productive assets. The savings accounts would be managed by banks or microfinance institutions.

In addition to the two authors, discussion panelists will include Michelle Adato, a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Mark Pickens, a Microfinance Analyst at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP); Marguerite Robinson, Independent Consultant and author of “The Microfinance Revolution”; and Luis Tejerina, an Economist at the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

The discussion will run from 9:30am to 11:00am EST on April 29 at the New American Foundation head office, located on the fourth floor of 1899 L Street NW, Washington DC. A map and directions are available here. A light breakfast will be served. Registration is free at this link. The event will also be webcast live at this link. Registration is not necessary for the webcast, however Flash Player 9 will be required to watch the event remotely. For more information please contact the New American Foundation by phone at 202-986-2700 or via the online feedback form on the foundation’s website.

The Global Assets Project was launched in 2006 by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis and the Asset Building Program of the New America Foundation. Its mission is to advance public policies around the world that build savings and assets for poor.

By Ryan Hogarth, Research Assistant

Additional Resources:

Center for Social Development: Home

Edge Finance: Home

Global Assets Project: Home

New America Foundation: Gateways to Global Poverty Reduction and Financial Inclusion

New America Foundation: Home

New America Foundation: Jamie M. Zimmerman

“Savings-Linked Conditional Cash Transfers: A New Policy Approach to Global Poverty Reduction”, by Jamie M. Zimmermann and Yves Moury, A Global Assets Project Policy Brief, New America Foundation: April, 2009