A Guide to Developing Gender-Responsive Guaranteed Income and Cash Transfer Programs

Guaranteed income (GI) programs have expanded rapidly across the United States since 2018, offering unconditional cash transfers to enhance financial security for underserved communities. As more than 100 programs have emerged, women—especially mothers and caregivers—have become central participants, whether directly targeted or indirectly reached through caregiver‑focused eligibility. Despite women’s substantial representation in GI programs, gender‑specific data remain limited, and most initiatives have not systematically incorporated gender‑responsive approaches.

This toolkit was created to help GI programs better recognize and address the gendered dynamics that shape participants’ experiences, including lower incomes, time poverty, labor‑market segregation, unpaid care responsibilities, and heightened exposure to gender‑based violence. It offers practical strategies for GI stakeholders—including policymakers, municipal leaders, funders, community partners, practitioners, and researchers—to implement gender‑sensitive and gender‑responsive practices across design, implementation, and evaluation, strengthening impact while avoiding the reinforcement of harmful gender norms.

Designed for the broader GI community, as well as policymakers and advocates working with cash transfer programs, this toolkit draws on interviews with more than 20 GI practitioners and a growing body of research on gender‑responsive social protection. Each section offers actionable recommendations, examples from the field, and a final self‑assessment to support continuous learning and more equitable outcomes.