Paper short abstract:

Drawing from the policy transfer theory, in considering the process of adoption of social protection in Kenya, the paper brings new evidence on the mechanisms of transfer that have been employed by international actors in influencing the adoption of the cash transfer programmes.

Paper long abstract:

In most of sub-Saharan Africa, the adoption of social protection has been driven by transnational actors. Previous studies on social protection in Africa have however largely focused on impact, design, fiscal space and sustainability of the programmes with little understanding on the dynamics of their adoption. For this reason, there remains a paucity of evidence in understanding the dynamics of transfer and adoption of social protection on the continent. Through a qualitative case study approach, this paper investigates the role and mechanisms used by transnational actors in promoting the adoption of social protection, in particular cash transfer programmes. The paper draws from the policy transfer theory in considering the process of adoption of the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) and the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) in Kenya. The study provides new evidence on the mechanisms of transfer employed by various international actors in influencing the adoption of the programmes. Previous discussions on policy transfer research in developing countries has focused on either voluntary or coercive mechanisms. However, this paper argues that transnational actors employ a combination of mechanisms in influencing the uptake of social protection and examines them through a continuum, ranging from voluntary (learning) to soft coercion.

Key words: social protection, transnational actors, policy transfer, mechanisms of transfer