Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Overview -- Objectives and methods of this study -- Conclusions based on the experience in the 22 countries -- Moving forward to strengthen safety nets in africa -- Implementing the vision : what can other countries learn? -- An agenda for learning -- Introduction -- Poverty and risk -- Existing safety net policies and programs -- Effectiveness of existing safety net programs: an analysis -- Financing, cost, and sustainability -- Moving forward: building better safety nets in africa -- Appendix a: definition of safety nets -- Appendix b: country typologies -- Appendix c: poverty headcount data -- Appendix d: list of targeting mechanisms in selected programs -- Boxes.