Conditional cash transfer within the evaluation of poverty reduction strategy and its impact on women's socio-economic status: Nazilli example

Poverty is an important social problem that is experienced on a global scale and causes economic and social inequality in terms of individuals, society and countries. Countries are developing many programs and strategies in the fight against poverty. One of them is conditional cash transfers. With conditional cash assistance, it is aimed to prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty by providing children with access to education and health services and investing in their future. Unlike classical scholarship approaches, this practice, which includes the principle of conditionality and adopts mother-based aid, is a first.The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of conditional cash assistance on the socio-economic status of women living in Aydın Province Nazilli District. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of conditional cash aids in reducing poverty. The population of the study consisted of women living in Aydın- Nazilli district who benefited from conditional cash assistance. The sample of the study consisted of 20 women living in Nazilli District who benefited from conditional cash assistance. Snowball sampling method, which is one of the non-probabilistic sampling methods, was used in sampling. A qualitative study was conducted with the semi-structured interview form and in-depth interview method. The data obtained at the end of the interview were analyzed and interpreted. According to the findings obtained in the study, it has been observed that women who benefit from conditional education assistance tend to have positive thoughts about the education of their children and to send their children to school regularly by reflecting this on their behavior. It has been observed that families benefiting from Conditional Health Assistance are sensitive about sending their children to routine health checks. However, it has been determined that families will take their children to family physicians even if they do not benefit from conditional health assistance. In this direction, it has been understood that it is necessary to increase the amount of financial aid and to raise awareness of families' ideas about education and health services. As a result of the research, it has been determined that families are more attentive to sending their children to school, since this money they receive on the condition of sending their children to school has a positive effect on their socio-economic status. KEYWORDS: Poverty, Conditional Cash Transfers, Women, Education, Health