This handbook has been designed as an aid to building greater awareness and understanding amongst parliamentarians in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of the role of social transfers as a specific social protection policy instrument for reducing chronic poverty and inequality and for promoting inclusive, or pro-poor, economic growth.

The handbook was prepared for the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) and specifically focuses on southern African experience. In particular, it is intended primarily for use in countries where the debate on comprehensive and scaled-up social transfers is ongoing and where political will remains uncertain.

The handbook provides an overview of social transfers; from explaining what they are (and what they are not) and how they work, to addressing a range of common concerns regarding their appropriateness and effectiveness. It also provides parliamentarians with guidance on how they can use their positions and influence to promote the adoption and expansion of social transfer instruments.