Money matters: cash transfers for adaptation

Developed countries have pledged billions of dollars a year to help poor nations adapt to climate change. But how should the money be spent? For the world’s poor, who are both the most vulnerable to climate change and the most in need of social protection, the best answer may be cash transfer programmes. Giving money out in this way has a strong track record in reaching the poor and helping them improve their nutrition, education and incomes — all of which are vital for building their long-term capacity to adapt to climate change. Cash transfers are also well accepted at the local level and, given the right political backing, can be implemented on a broad scale.