Stakeholders develop Cash Plus strategy for Zambia
LUSAKA (ILO News) - From 19 to 30 August 2024, over 100 Government officials, social protection practitioners, academia, development, and cooperating partners across the country gathered in Livingstone to develop the Cash Plus strategy as a means of greater poverty reduction. The 10-day event, which took place at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone and graced by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Namani Moonze, was supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Cash Plus is when cash transfers provided to people facing crises are combined with other complementary forms of assistance.
30 August 2024
Although cash is a popular method of assistance, on its own it might not be sufficient to effectively meet a specific need or needs. As a means of greater poverty reduction, the Zambian government initiated through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services the Cash Plus reform in 2019.
The Cash Plus builds on the current social protection system but aims for a more integrated approach by streamlining administrative processes of various programmes also referred to as ‘single window services’.
Officiating at the event, Dr. Moonze said social protection was a game changer as it uplifts the lives of people.
He added that the concepts of the Single Window Service Delivery and the Cash Plus Agenda help the government to deliver seamless and optimal social protection.
“Social protection helps people to be self-reliant, thereby contributing to sustainable community and national development. We appreciate the wonderful work of staff from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services with regards to community mobilization and identification and selection of poor and vulnerable households,” he said.
Dr Moonze expressed gratitude to the ILO through the United Nations system and cooperating partners for providing technical and financial support towards the development of the Cash Plus strategy.
Meanwhile, ILO social protection project national project coordinator, Mr. Isaac Bwalya pledged ILO’s support and commitment to ensuring that the strategy was produced and operationalized.
“The ILO has been part of the process to develop the Cash Plus Strategy. We started the process during the Micro-simulation process working in collaboration with Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR), UNU-WIDER, Southern African Social Protection Experts Network (SASPEN), as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNICEF. The micro-simulation process led to the generation of vital evidence in support of the Cash Plus policy approach through a policy brief,” said Mr. Bwalya.