by
Dr. Santiago Levy Algazi

Chair:  Margaret Grosh
Lead Economist, Social Protection - Human Development Network

Discussants:
Dr. Yadigar Gökalp
Director General of Turkey's CCT Program
&
Mamta Murthi
Lead Economist, WDR2007 "Development and the Next Generation"

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs aim at reducing poverty in the short term through cash transfers while at the same time trying to encourage investments into the human capital of the next generation by making these transfers conditional upon regular school attendance and the regular use of preventive health care services.  This presentation offered participants an opportunity to learn from Mexico's experience with supporting youth development (particularly youth at risk, ages 12-24) through CCTs and other complementary programs, with particular emphasis on what evaluated evidence tells us about impact on youth outcomes.  In recent years, Mexico introduced Jovenes con Oportunidades into its menu of CCT programs which targets poor youth by rewarding recipients for staying in school with credits which accumulate in a savings account to finance further study upon graduation.

The presentation provided:

• An overview of Mexico's initiatives (Jovenes con Oportunidades and other related initiatives)
• Design elements to target youth
• Measurements/indicators used to measure impact
• Results of evaluations to date, and
• Lessons learned

The topic was introduced by Margaret Grosh and the presentation was followed by comments and questions by Mamta Murthi and Dr. Gölkap.  Some of the questions discussed were:

• How do CCTs need to differ when targeting youth as opposed to children?
• Have the results been more or less significant with this age group as opposed to younger children and if so, why?
• How do evaluations need to differ when targeting youth?
• What are the most effective mechanisms for targeting youth at risk?
• What is more effective: channeling cash transfers to the mothers or to the youth directly?
• How can cross sectoral services and outcomes be effectively incorporated into the instrument (or should they)?
• What are the recommendations for other countries interested in adopting this instrument for youth?

Presentation & Video

Presentation - "Mexico’s Rural Health Care Centers for Teenagers" (188kb pdf)

Video - Part 1  ◘  Part 2