SOCIAL PROTECTION PACKAGES TRANSFORMING LIVELIHOODS
…beneficiaries buying goats, chickens through these programmes
THEY are all over 30 years whose livelihoods and those of their families have been transformed to better while being protected from falling into extreme poverty.
These are some of the beneficiaries of the social protection programmes, Food Security Pack (FSP) and Social Cash Transfer (SCT) which are being implemented by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in partnership with stakeholders such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Considering the importance of ensuring that households do not fall into extreme poverty levels, the ministry is implementing a number of key social protection programmes across the country.
These programmes, being done in partnership with other stakeholders, are targeted at lowering poverty levels while raising people’s living standards.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection Phase II (UNJPSP-II) is implemented by the government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to meet its aspirations of an effective, efficient, and rights-based social protection programme.
The project is technically supported by the four United Nations agencies - the UNICEF, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Food Programme ( WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
With such support, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services this month in partnership with UNICEF held a social protection training for journalists in Livingstone meant to enhance reporting which consequently enrich the debate on social protection programmes and services in Zambia.
Other objectives of the training was to build capacity of the media on the subject of social protection and ultimately to improve through the reportage policy formulation on social protection and delivery of the social protection programmes in the country.
During the training programme, the ministry took time to take journalists in the field and meet beneficiaries of different social protection programmes. This enabled journalists to speak to beneficiaries directly and assess the impact of these social services programmes.
One of the beneficiaries of Cash Plus programme which is a combination of the FSP and SCT programme, Ms Agastar Seluka, has been able to buy seven chickens and four goats out of the savings from the K400 she accesses under the SCT initiative.
The 55-year- old woman of Libonda village in Kazungula narrated how she has been able to sustain her family through the allowance she accesses under the SCT.
According to Ms Seluka, she has been able to support her six children though the SCT programme.
“Before I was put on SCT, my family was extremely poor
and we could barely have three meals a day. But now that we are on this programme, our livelihoods have greatly improved and I am able to take care of my children and able to buy them books and uniforms for school,” she said.
Ms Seluka has been on the SCT since 2018 and was put on FSP in August this year.
On the FSP programme, Ms Seluka appreciated Government’s efforts for putting up the programme.
All beneficiaries under the FSP have access to two bags of fertiliser (Urea and Compound D) and a five of maize.
Ms Seluka has plans to expand her gardening using the farming inputs accessed through the FSP.
She requested Government to consider delivering these inputs between April and June as this will allow the maize to be ready before the end of the year.
Ms Violet Kabeta, a 35-yearold mother of five is another beneficiary of the SCT and FSP programmes.
Using savings from the K400 she accesses through SCT monthly, Ms Kabeta has been able to buy six goats and 10 chickens. She explained that she first bought chickens, sold them then later on bought the goats.
“I have been on the SCT since 2018 and I have been supporting my family through the help from Government under the social services. I have also been able to support my five children through this and I even bought 10 chickens and six goats,” Ms Kabeta said.
She however said the K400 was not enough and suggested that Government should at least increase it to K1, 000.
Ms Kabeta who has been on the FSP since August 2022 requested Government to increase bags of maize to 10 kg from the current five kg.
She took time to appreciate Government’s efforts as it has lessened the problems she has in terms of food.
Beneficiaries, particularly under FSP, requested Government to consider distributing the farming input much earlier such as during the month of April unlike August as this affected their businesses during the harvest season.
One of the FSP beneficiaries, a 45-year-old Owen Muzungu of Libonda village said he was receiving two bags of fertiliser (Urea and Compound D) and a five-kilogramme bag of maize.
Mr Muzungu, who has three children however stated that these are not enough as he had plans of expanding his garden.
“I got these farming inputs in August this year and the maize should be ready by November this year. My family and I are grateful for this gesture from Government. We however as that next year these inputs should be distributed much earlier,” he said.
Mr Macleay Seluka, 52 years old, is another beneficiary of the FSP who complained that the two bags of fertiliser and five-kg of maize was not enough to feed his family.
Mr Macleay who has 10 children and two wives also suggested the government should instead supply at least four bags of fertiliser and 10kg of maize.
He also complained that “the farming inputs came late and this will affect our harvest as this maize will be competing with the rain-fed crop and that will affect the prices.”
In response to the concerns raised by the beneficiaries, Community Development Officer for Kazungula under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Muleya Cruesha, took noted of the concerns raised by the beneficiaries.
Mr Cruesha also said the district this year received 700 packs of social service protection.
Under FSP, he said the area has 195 beneficiaries.
“We have taken note of the appeal under the FSP from the beneficiaries that it is better to start preparations when we still have the moisture. So the proposal is that they start by April when there is still moisture so that they are able to sell their products by June then prepare for rain fed in October.
“These programmes have improved people’s livelihoods and they are able to feed themselves. The cash plus for example is a very good component,” Mr Cruesha said.