Social Cash Transfer Programme

2010

Using the harmonised model, the programme is expected to reach 10–15 per cent of the total Zambian population. By the end of 2015 the programme reached 180,261 households or approximately 900,000 individuals (about 6 per cent of the population).

ZMW305 million or approximately USD30 million (2016), of which ZMW250 million comes from government funding.

At the end of 2015, the Social Cash Transfer programme was being implemented in 50 districts. In 2016, the programme is expected to be rolled out to an additional 28 districts using the harmonised inclusive model. Programme coverage per component of the programme is: • CGP: Kaputa, Nsama, Shang’ombo, Sioma, Sikongo and Kalabo districts. • MCT: Milenge, Chienge, Zambezi , Luwingu, Chitambo and Serenje districts. • 10 per cent Inclusive Model: Kalomo, Monze, Chipata, Kazungula and Zimba districts. • Social Pension: Katete District. • Harmonised Inclusive Model (32 districts): Mufumbwe, Chavuma, Kitwe, Luanshya,Ndola, Mafinga, Lufwanyama, Lusaka, Luangwa, Livingstone, Gwembe, Itezhi-tezhi, Chinsali, Isoka, Nalolo, Shiwangandu, Lukulu, Senanga, Mitete, Chilubi, Mporokoso, Mambwe, Lunga, Mwense, Mungwi, Petauke, Kawambwa, Mwansabombwe, Nchelenge, Chipili, Samfya and Sikongo.

10 per cent inclusive scheme: people with disabilities. CGP: children, including those with disabilities. MCT: women; orphans; elderly people; people with disabilities. Social Pension Scheme: elderly people. Harmonised Inclusive Model: poor labour-constrained households or poor households with a high dependency ratio. For the districts involved in the 2016 scale-up, the programme will focus on elderly people and people with disabilities.

The 10 per cent Inclusive Scheme targets the 10 per cent poorest incapacitated and destitute households in the communities under this scheme. The CGP targets households with at least one child under the age of five or a child with disabilities under the age of 14. The MCT scheme targets households satisfying one of the following conditions: a) households headed by women with at least one orphan; b) households headed by an elderly person with at least one orphan; or c) households with at least one member with disabilities. The Social Pension Scheme targets individuals who are 65 years and older. The Harmonised Inclusive Model eligibility criteria include: • residency: the household must have been living in the same catchment area for at least six months; • incapacity: the household does not have any fit-to-work members; or has a high dependency ratio (equal or greater than three); and • welfare: the household’s estimated welfare must be below a certain pre-determined threshold based on the Household Living Conditions Index in the country. Welfare levels are estimated by the Social Cash Transfer Management Information System (MIS) using information collected from households. The purpose of this criteria is to ensure that well-off households are not included in the programme.2 For the districts involved in the 2016 scale-up, the programme changed the incapacity criterion to cover all households with an elderly member aged 65 years and above or households with a person with severe disabilities, while residency and welfare tests remain the same.

Retargeting every three years

Cash

Beneficiary households are entitled to ZMW70 per month, which they receive on a bi-monthly basis as a sum of ZMW140. Beneficiary households with persons with severe disabilities receive double the amount (i.e. ZMW280).

Bi-monthly

The payments are made manually by appointed Pay-Point Managers at selected pay points within the community (usually schools or rural health centres).

The main recipient is a pre-identified member of the household (preferably female) who receives the payment on behalf of the household.

Households continue to receive transfers until they exit the programme through retargeting or through dissolution of the household either through death or relocation to a district that does not qualify for the cash transfer.

Monthly monitoring visits at community and district level.