Beyond poverty reduction: Evidence from a multifaceted program on poverty, nutrition and child development

Abstract

We study the impacts of a multifaceted program implemented in Burkina Faso that targets ultra-poor households with young children or pregnant women. The design includes a cash transfer program (T1), T1 plus animal transfer (T2) and T2 plus a nutrition bundle which includes fortified flour, a gardening kit and nutrition education (T3). We find that the program reduces extreme poverty in all treatment branches, but only T3 positively impacts child nutrition. T3 also impacts motor and cognitive development of new born children. Our results suggest that while standard multi-faced programs are effective at reducing poverty, nutritionally focused programs are likely necessary to better address children’s long-run earning potential via improved cognitive skills.