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Paper short abstract:

Non-state cash transfers have become important humanitarian and development aid in reaching out to the most vulnerable groups in the society. This paper explores the triangular social contract outcomes to the non-state actors, beneficiaries, and the state’s handling of the process in Tanzania

Paper long abstract:

This paper analyses evolving relationship between the recipient communities, non-state cash transfer organizations (NSAs) and the state in Tanzania. Non-state cash transfer actors have increasingly become more important as humanitarian and development aid turning social cash transfers into a means of reaching out to the most vulnerable groups in the society. Despite the fact that cash provisions are still new in many African countries, they have transformed the beneficiaries’ lives; and it has been argued that, cash transfers restored the lost trust between recipient communities and their governments. However, evidence regarding the effects of cash transfers on social contract relations is primarily based on the studies on state-managed cash transfers. This paper employed a mixed-method approach to explore social contract outcomes in the interface between NSAs, the state and the beneficiaries of cash transfers. To understand the relationship between cash recipients, NSAs providing cash transfers and the Tanzanian state, the empirical material was analysed using a triangular relational framework with a view to understanding the cash transfer practice, evolving relationships and social contract dynamics between the state and beneficiaries. It is worth noting that in order to understand the social contract dynamics pertaining to non-state cash transfers; it is important to scrutinize the three social relationships. The study uses World Vision and Kwa Wazee non-state cash transfer projects as case studies to particularly explore the beneficiaries’ perceptions on NSAs distributing cash and the state’s handling of the process.