Exit from social assistance in sub-Sahara Africa: The reality of livelihood empowerment against poverty in the Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract

Globally, there is a frantic rush to establish social assistance programmes such as Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which are viewed as a panacea for poverty reduction. Nonetheless, prior research ignored the critical issue of exiting these programmes, which is essential given the likelihood of scheme dependency. As a result, this study employs a concurrent mixed methods design to examine LEAP exit. Three hundred and two LEAP beneficiaries were included in the sample. Primary data were gathered through the administration of questionnaires and an interview guide, whereas secondary data were gathered from LEAP policy documents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a hypothesis test for two independent proportions, the Mann-Whitney U test, thematic and content analysis. The study discovered that there was limited awareness regarding exit strategies. While some beneficiaries met the exit requirement, they did not graduate. To ensure a sustainable exit from LEAP, complementary services must be ensured. The unique contribution of this study is that it brings to light a previously unrecognized issue of social assistance programme exit (in this case, LEAP) by demonstrating that some beneficiaries had reached the exit threshold, thereby paving the way for enrolment of new eligible beneficiaries and saving the state from spending its scarce funds on those who do not need it anymore.