Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP)
Basic Information
Country
Geographic area
Institutions and agencies involved
Programme Details
Programme objectives
The programme's main objective is to deliver regular and emergency cash transfers. The core objectives are: a) To ensure effective, financially secure, and well-targeted use of safety net and cash transfer programmes to support some of the most vulnerable and poor in Kenya; b) Implement a scaled-up, integrated, effective Government-led, and financed safety net programme.
Start date
Previous programme name (if any)
Hunger Safety Net Programme Pilot Phase
Coverage
101,800 households (2019)
Hunger Safety Net Programme webiste. Accessed 19 May 2022, <https://www.hsnp.or.ke/index.php/as/objectives>
Programme expenditure
KHS4,426,098
HSNP. 2015. “About HSNP.” HSNP website. Accessed 30 July 2015.
<http://www.hsnp.or.ke/index.php/component/content/article?id=33>.
Targeting and eligiblity
Targeting methods
Categorical Targeting
Geographical Targeting
Community-Based Targeting
Targeted areas
Eight poorest and arid counties, namely; Turkana, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Garissa, Tana River, Isiolo, and Samburu.
Target groups
Households with chronic food insecurity
Institute of Development Studies. 2015. “Kenya Hunger Safety Net Programme.” IDS website.
Accessed 11 November 2015. <https://www.ids.ac.uk/project/kenya-hunger-safety-net-programme>.
5. HSNP. 2015. “About HSNP.” HSNP website. Accessed 30 July 2015.
Eligibility criteria
To be extremely poor (unable to afford basic expenses or to invest in
the development of human capital); to be elderly (older than 55 years
of age); to have a high dependency ratio (households without adult
members or whose members are not fit for work or have long-term
illnesses or severe disabilities).
Ndoka, C. n.d. “The Hunger Safety Net Programme 2.” Nairobi: Government of Kenya. Accessed 11
November 2015. <http://www.hsnp.or.ke/filedownload.php?download_file=HSNP2_Presentation.pdf>.
Coverage and other information
Type of benefits
Cash
Amount of benefits
The current cash transfer value is Ksh2,700 per month per household for both group 1 and Group 2 beneficiaries. However, HSNP Group 1 beneficiaries receive Ksh5,400 per household every two months while Group 2 beneficiaries receive their monthly stipend of Kshs2,700 when a drought or shock is triggered.
Hunger Safety Net Programme webiste. Accessed 19 May 2022, <https://www.hsnp.or.ke/index.php/as/objectives>
Payment/delivery frequency
Monthly/Every two months
Hunger Safety Net Programme webiste. Accessed 19 May 2022, <https://www.hsnp.or.ke/index.php/as/objectives>
Benefit delivery mechanism
Delivery of cash under HSNP is through a fully operational bank account with an ATM Mastercard card. Cash is deposited to the household’s bank account on the fifth of the first month of the payment cycle. To access cash a beneficiary will either present an ATM Card at Equity’s payment agents within their sub-location and access the account biometrically or over the counter of their local bank branch or any Equity branch.
Hunger Safety Net Programme webiste. Accessed 19 May 2022, <https://www.hsnp.or.ke/index.php/as/objectives>
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and frequency
Monitoring is usually done by the National Drought Management
Authority (NDMA) and involved partners, donors and external
stakeholders. Evaluation is performed by external contractors.
Ndoka, C. n.d. “The Hunger Safety Net Programme 2.” Nairobi: Government of Kenya. Accessed 11
November 2015. <http://www.hsnp.or.ke/filedownload.php?download_file=HSNP2_Presentation.pdf>.
