On Thursday 6 November 2025, E.L. Dadap-Cantal will defend the doctoral thesis titled: Backstopping Poverty Targeting in the Periphery
- Promotor
- Promotor
- Date
- Thursday 6 Nov 2025, 15:00 - 16:00
- Type
- PhD defence
- Space
- Auditorium of the ISS
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:
Over the past 20 years, the Philippines and Cambodia have expanded their social protection systems through conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes and centralized social registries to identify beneficiaries.
Although officials claim these schemes were tailored to local contexts, Cantal's research shows both countries have adopted strikingly similar, top-down approaches driven by external influence and global policy models.
She finds that international organizations and aid agencies played key roles in shaping these systems – not just during adoption but throughout their evolution – entrenching a poverty-focused, centralized form of social protection that may reinforce social divisions rather than empower communities.
- More information
The Public Defence will take place on Thursday, 6 November 2025 in the ISS auditorium (Aula B) and the ceremony will begin promptly at 15:00 hrs. The doors will be closed at the start of the Public Defence.
Children below the age of 7 are not allowed in the auditorium during the first part of the ceremony.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Atrium of the ISS.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
