Social protection programmes have become an effective and indispensable tool for improving the living standards of the poor and vulnerable. This article examines the five main cash transfer programmes in Colombia and studies their history, targeting, coverage, operation and the fiscal commitments they demand. It also reviews the impact evaluations of these programmes and their results on various social indicators. The article is a first attempt to consolidate the information that exists on the subject in Colombia, in order to allow a comprehensive understanding of the scope and challenges of these programmes and to identify possible areas for research and improvement.