Assets, cash transfers and urban livelihoods in South Africa

How access to cash transfers (CTs) contributes to assets and livelihoods is not well understood in development contexts. This qualitative study draws on the sustainable livelihoods approach and describes how beneficiaries acquire, mobilise and convert a diversity of assets into livelihood strategies amidst high levels of unemployment and poverty. We find that receipt of CTs had a catalytic effect enabling the pursuit of livelihoods, facilitating capital accrual and asset conversion. Among the study implications is the need to complement CTs with policies that encourage social and productive goals and recognise the informal economy in employment growth.