Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/311644 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2024/88
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Zambia's reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes its economy and population highly vulnerable to frequent droughts and irregular rainfall. This paper assesses the role of social protection, specifically the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program, in mitigating drought-induced poverty and consumption declines. Using the MicroZAMOD microsimulation model and districtlevel rainfall data, we find that rainfall shocks significantly increase poverty and reduce household consumption, disproportionately affecting the poorest households. While the current SCT program provides some relief, reforms to eligibility criteria, particularly removing the household composition requirement, could improve targeting, expand coverage, and strengthen resilience against climate-related economic shocks.
Subjects: 
Zambia
tax-benefit microsimulation
social protection
climate change
JEL: 
H84
I38
Q54
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9267-553-0
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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