The meaning of ‘revolution’ in development aid : an exploration into the perceptions of unconditional cash transfers within a continuously changing aid industry

Abstract

This thesis looks at the use of unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) in the aid industry as a tool to alleviate poverty. UCTs are built on the idea of just giving money to the poor instead of setting up large-scale development projects. UCTs have been growing in popularity in the aid industry and the tool is described as revolutionary because it allows recipients instead of donors to decide what they need to escape poverty. This thesis sets out to examine the role of UCTs in the development aid industry by considering the perceptions of UCTs and the position of UCTs in relation to the shifts in development aid discourses. The NGO GiveDirectly serves as a case study to research the use of UCTs in aid and to examine the role of NGOs within the aid industry. Interviews were conducted and a thematic analysis of texts was carried out to gain insights into the use of UCTs and the NGO GiveDirectly. The sources represent the donor perspective and include representatives from the media, NGO employees, development experts, and academic scholars. The findings suggest that UCTs are perceived very positively but that they are not as revolutionary as they are made out to be. Additionally, the discussion on the role of NGOs in the aid industry proposes that GiveDirectly does not offer alternatives to dominant understandings of aid. Moreover, the contextualization of UCTs within the aid industry suggests that the tool fits well within broader shifts in thinking about aid. Lastly, this thesis argues that UCTs illustrate the ongoing cycle of hyper optimism over new methods of delivering aid followed by a realization that results are limited. In conclusion, this thesis argues that UCTs represent ongoing continuities in aid discourses rather than alternatives.