Social cash transfers take people out of poverty

Kasungu district principal social welfare officer Given Mukisi says the Social Cash Transfer Programme has empowered ultra-poor households to accumulate assets and improve nutrition. The social safety net initiative targets ultra-poor and labour-constrained households as well as special groups such as child-headed homes and people with disabilities to empower them socioeconomically with monthly stipends. In Kasungu, the initiative has identified new beneficiaries to meet its target of 19 409 households, up from 15 086.

Mukisi, along with other officials on Wednesday assessed the initiative’s impact on beneficiaries at Lisasazi in Traditional Authority Kaomba in the district. She said: “The programme is registering successes as it has transformed the lives of vulnerable households. So far, many households have built better houses, invested in livestock farming and are supporting children in school” Joyce Mapulanga from Chizila Village said the programme has improved her family’s living conditions.

“Previously, it was difficult for us to make meaningful progress at home. But now, I have built a decent house using money I secured through the programme,” she said. Another beneficiary, Peter Chisale, said he has invested in pig farming which has strengthened his household’s income, enabling him to pay for his children’s school needs.

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“I am looking forward to graduating from the programme because I am now out of poverty,” he said. Kasungu began implementing the programme in 2017 and since then, it has disbursed over K12 billion to vulnerable households. The World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund support the programme through the National Local Government Finance Committee

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