Abstract
In contemporary times, social protection strategies adopted by countries in the Global South are crucial and successful in reducing poverty, vulnerability, and exclusion, although some countries have had minimal impacts. There is emerging evidence that cash transfers are improving livelihoods and breaking the intergenerational poverty cycle. Ghana, with the support of development partners, has introduced Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) as a cash transfer programme for extremely poor and vulnerable households. This study explored the contributions of the LEAP cash transfer programme to the sustainable livelihoods of the poor in the Northern Region of Ghana. Underscored by the sustainable livelihood approach, descriptive and interpretive design in qualitative research was employed with a total sample of 30 respondents who were beneficiary household heads. In addition, interviews were conducted with six key informants, comprising members of the LEAP committee, social workers, and policymakers. The themes that emerged from the study included positive livelihood capital benefits and livelihood capital challenges beneficiaries face. Hence, the study documented the contributions of the LEAP cash transfer programme to livelihood capitals (social, human, physical, natural, and financial). Furthermore, constraints, including lack of access and the inability to expand existing livelihood capitals are discussed. The study revealed that community capital challenges, including the unavailability of good roads, hospitals, school facilities, markets, and a lack of water resources impeded livelihoods. The beneficiaries were vulnerable to environmental challenges such as drought, floods, food price hikes, pests and diseases, and health crises. However, the beneficiaries used survival strategies that included rearing animals, keeping birds, and petty trading. The female beneficiary household heads engaged in local soap making and Shea butter processing. Policy suggestions included harmonising Afrocentric strategies with formal social work strategies to enhance social protection services for the poor in Ghana. The study recommends that the cash size should be increased and the frequency of payment should be adjusted to monthly instead of bimonthly. It is recommended that the programme should include asset transfer or food transfer packages for poverty alleviation in beneficiary households. Work for cash is needed for the energetic young people from the cash beneficiary households who are not recipients of the LEAP cash but depend on individual beneficiaries. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for changes to existing social protection policies that will incorporate sustainable livelihoods and Afrocentric strategies into social work.