A qualitative evaluation of a conditional cash transfer programme in Mexico: recipients’ perspectives of long-term results

Abstract

The Mexican conditional cash transfer programme (CCT), Prospera, was a leading poverty reduction strategy for over two decades. The programme, under the framework of CCT programmes, had two objectives with differing time horizons, short term alleviation of income poverty and a longer-term objective of breaking intergenerational poverty. The aim of this paper is to explore the recipients’ perspectives in relation to the CCT programme in Mexico and whether they perceived it achieved its long-term objectives. A qualitative method was adopted with 47 interviews conducted with recipients with over 15 years enrolment in the programme. Analysis results suggested that the recipients were aware of the long-term objectives of the programme, understanding education being key to breaking intergenerational poverty, and that they felt the programme had enabled children of recipients to break from cycles of poverty. The paper sought to highlight the value of qualitative evaluations to form part of future evaluations in measuring the long-term success of CCT programmes.