The transformation of Rastra, Indonesia’s targeted social assistance program to a non-cash food assistance program, or BPNT, may be the biggest reform the country has conducted in 20 years. Under BPNT, beneficiary households will no longer receive assistance in the form of rice. Instead, they will be given an electronic voucher worth IDR 110.000, which they can use to redeem for rice and eggs.
As Rastra covers more than 15 million beneficiaries, ensuring the smooth transition from Rastra to BPNT is crucial. To aid this transition, J-PAL affiliated researchers collaborated with the Government of Indonesia to conduct a randomized evaluation in 105 districts. The objective of the evaluation was to identify the impact of the new program on beneficiaries targeting, poverty reduction, household consumption decisions, the value and quality of rice, and the administrative costs of delivering the program.
In this webinar, Maliki, Elan Satriawan, Sudarno Sumarto, Rema Hanna, and Ben Olken delve more into the result of the evaluation. The panelists also discuss how the result of the evaluation can be used to inform policymakers.
Learn more at J-PAL Southeast Asia's website: [ Ссылка ]
