This project in Malawi started with a one-year (2010) pilot project in Chitipa district. In this pilot project four local non-governmental organizations, NOVOC, CEYCA, YONECO and IPRSE, worked together with the national government ánd the district council on enhancing the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Scheme in Chitipa district.
The goal of the project:
- To mitigate the economic and psychosocial impact of HIV and AIDS related illness and death on OVC and their caretakers through strengthening the Social Cash Transfer Scheme
The objectives of the project:
- To improve the management and implementation capacity of Chitipa district to deliver social cash transfers (through training and tool development)
- To improve national, district and community level commitment and support for the implementation of the Social Protection Policy and Social Cash Transfer Scheme (through lobby and advocacy)
- To improve the linkages between SCTS beneficiaries and other social services (by conducting an assessment of existing and potential interventions)
Participatory Action Research
The research was conducted in such a way that all stakeholders (beneficiaries, community committees, NGOs as well as government at national, district and local level) jointly identified successes and challenges of the Scheme. During the process possible solutions to face the challenges were identified and implemented right away. The effectiveness of the adaptations was closely monitored and reflected upon. The so called Participatory Action Research , boosted the learning process of the stakeholders and at the same time resulted in actions that improved the implementation of the SCT Scheme.
Project Achievements:
- Capacity building of the Social Cash Transfer Secretariat at district level was done through a.o. training of community trainers, organising an exchange visit to other districts (more advanced in the Scheme), developing M&E tools and establishing an IT-based data base
- Implementing the Action research, that consisted of a Baseline Study, 3 search conferences and an assessment of the linkages (a comprehensive research report was published March 2011)
- Meetings were organised to share the learnings of the project and more particularly of the Action research with all relevant stakeholders
- A communication strategy was developed for raising awareness and understanding of the social cash transfer scheme in order to gain support from district and community leaders
New pilot project in Mangochi 2011
Currently a second one-year pilot project is running in Mangochi district, with similar objectives as the one in Chitipa, and the same local partner organisations. We expect that, due to another
implementation context, other challenges will be identified and new lessons on further enhancing the Social Cash Transfer Scheme can be learnt. As part of this new project, the advocacy efforts will be continued and strengthened.
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