19 March 2016, Guetema, Mali - Vaccinated goats ready to be distributed to FAO beneficiaries, Nioro Tougouné Rangabé village, Nioro du Sahel Circle, Kayes Region, Mali. Small livestock like goats can have an insurance function in the event of crises. The sale of livestock provides quick access to a source of cash that can be used for household food or health expenses. Livestock can also facilitate investment in other activities that can lead to increased income. Under the productive transfers/CASH+ programme, women are the direct recipients of cash transfers in 99 percent of the cases in this country. In order to increase the resilience of vulnerable households affected by repeated shocks in the Sahel, FAO is currently experimenting the ?roductive transfers" approach (CASH+) in Mali and Mauritania. The 18-month programme, based on a successful FAO project implemented in 2014 in Burkina Faso and Niger, combines unconditional cash transfers with the provision of in-kind livestock inputs to benefit 1250 very poor vulnerable households in 46 villages of the Kayes region and the Wilaya of Gorgol. In order to better cope with, recover from and adapt to the multiple shocks and recurrent crises affecting the Sahel region, the poorest households need to protect their livelihoods, diversify their sources of income and accumulate productive assets.