Virtual Brown Bag Seminar: Are resilience-oriented cash plus interventions working for ultra-poor households in Malawi: Learning from Mlumikizi Pro-ACT
Organized by IFPRI-Malawi
Date: September 30, 2020
Time: 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm (CAT)
Presenter slides and a blog will be available in the days following the event.
Abstract
Social protection programs that build and sustain resilience and improve livelihoods are critical to the poorest of the poor. While Social Cash Transfer Programs (SCTP) have provided regular and predictable additional income, complementary services, such as Village Savings and Loans groups, are central to building resilient livelihoods. Implementing the EU funded Pro-Resilience Action (Pro-ACT) project, Christian Aid and their partners have provided such support to ultra-poor households enrolled in the government social protection scheme.
Households are classified into two primary groups based on their productive capacities and capabilities. To establish what works for which category of ultra-poor households, Christian Aid partnered with IDinsight to assess selected interventions and draw lessons for current and future SCTP+ programs in Malawi. This study focused on three cash plus interventions in Mzimba North and Neno districts: Lean Season Cash Top-Ups (CTUs), Village Savings and Loans groups (VSLs), and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) training. The study finds indications that the three interventions are broadly achieving their intended outcomes. With capacity building and regular support, even those without resources can increase their savings. However, strengthening awareness raising of grievance redress mechanisms and to improving general coordination between government and implementing agencies is needed.
Presenters:
- T. Arthur Chibwana, Economic Justice Coordinator – Southern Africa, Christian Aid, Malawi
- Natasha Siyumbwa, Senior Associate, IDinsight
Moderator:
- Bob Baulch, Senior Research Fellow and Program Leader, IFPRI-Malawi
Individuals attending this event may be audio taped, videotaped, or photographed during the course of a meeting, and by attending grant permission for their likenesses and the content of their comments, if any, to be broadcast, webcast, published, or otherwise reported or recorded. Questions? Please contact IFPRI-Lilongwe@cgiar.org
