81497 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database The Impact of a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme on Consumption in Colombia Author(s) Orazio Attanasio Alice Mesnard Contact o.attanasio@uc..ac.uk Country Colombia Organizing Theme Economic Opportunities and Access to Assets, Health Status Completed Intervention Category Cash Transfer Sector Social Protection This paper studies the impact of a conditional cash transfer programme in Colombia on the total consumption of very poor households and on its components. Our evaluation methodology involves comparing household expenditures in areas in which the programme was not implemented (control) and those in which it was (treated). We use a quasi- experimental approach, as the Familias en Acción programme was not randomly assigned across localities, for political reasons. We condition on a large range of household- and municipality-level characteristics, and also control for preprogramme differences in the Abstract outcomes of interest using a differences-indifferences methodology. We find that the programme has been effective at greatly increasing total consumption and its main component, food consumption, in both rural and urban areas. The programme has also contributed to improvements in the quality of food consumed, in particular of items rich in proteins (milk, meat and eggs) and of cereals. Furthermore, the programme has created redistributive effects in favour of children through expenditure on education and children’s clothing, while it has not significantly affected consumption of adult goods such as alcohol and tobacco or adults’ clothing. Gender Connection Gender Informed Analysis Gender Outcomes Consumption, nutrition after transfers to a female IE Design Difference in Difference Famalias en Accion is a standard CCT offering transfers equivalent to about $8-16 per school age child and nutrition packages of about $28 for children below 7 contingent on Intervention school attendance. The program is targeted based on the household's poverty score index. The schooling transfers go directly to the mothers. Intervention Period The program originally began in 2001 and was funded by the IDB to last for 3 years The final evaluation covers 122 municipalities, 57 treatment and 65 controls. In each Sample population municipality approximately 100 households were included in the sample for a total sample of about 11,500, 10,742 of which were included in the follow up survey. Households that were treated with the CCT were compared to households in municipalities Comparison conditions that did not receive the CCT. The baseline actually was conducted after some of the treatment group were already treated so there is some comparison between the early Last updated: 14 August 2013 1 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database treatment and the late treatment group. Unit of analysis Household level Evaluation Period 2002-2003; the follow up interview was a year after the start of the program The program was effective at increasing the total consumption and food consumption in rural and urban areas; on average there was a 15% increase in consumption, mostly in food. Results The program also improved the quality of the food, particularly in items rich in proteins and cereals. The program was not rolled out randomly. The treatment and control area my not have Primary study limitations common support. Individuals in treatment areas may have changed their behavior before the program in anticipation of the program. Funding Source Attanasio, O., & Mesnard, A. (2006). The Impact of a Conditional Cash Transfer Reference(s) Programme on Consumption in Colombia*. Fiscal studies, 27(4), 421-442. Link to Studies http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2006.00041.x/full Microdata Last updated: 14 August 2013 2