Targeting vulnerability after the 2005 earthquake: Pakistan's livelihood support cash grants programme

Area of Science:

• Disaster relief and reconstruction efforts
• Socioeconomic impact assessments
• Humanitarian aid program evaluation

Background:

• The 2005 Pakistan earthquake caused widespread devastation, necessitating robust relief and reconstruction strategies.
• Effective targeting of aid to vulnerable populations is crucial for successful post-disaster recovery.
• The Livelihood Support Cash Grants (LSCG) program was implemented to assist families during the transition from relief to reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Livelihood Support Cash Grants (LSCG) program in targeting vulnerable families after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.
• To assess the extent of leakage (ineligible recipients) and under-coverage (eligible families excluded) within the LSCG program.
• To identify challenges in aid distribution during post-disaster reconstruction phases.

Main Methods:

• A community-based survey was conducted to assess the LSCG program's reach and accuracy.
• Analysis focused on identifying eligible versus ineligible recipients of cash grants.
• Evaluation of exclusion errors, where deserving families did not receive assistance.

Main Results:

• Approximately 30% of families surveyed received the cash grant.
• Only 50% of the families who received the grant were actually eligible.
• A significant proportion of eligible and vulnerable families (50%) were excluded from the program.

Conclusions:

• The LSCG program demonstrated significant targeting inefficiencies, with high rates of both leakage and exclusion.
• The findings indicate a critical need for improved targeting mechanisms in post-disaster cash transfer programs.
• Addressing these targeting failures is essential to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable populations effectively.