Govt reviews Emergency Cash Transfer Programme.

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The Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) Programme, which recently concluded, is currently undergoing a comprehensive review aimed at assessing its impact, efficiency, and sustainability.

Community Development and Social Services Minister Doreen Mwamba said the findings will guide potential expansion and inform strategic next steps to better support Zambia’s most vulnerable citizens.

Delivering a ministerial statement on the impact of social protection programmes including the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and Cash for Work initiatives, Ms. Mwamba said the government will use insights from the review to enhance coordination, expand digital systems, and strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders.

She has stressed that social protection should not be seen as a handout but rather as an investment in human dignity, a driver of inclusive growth, and a key pillar of national development.

The Minister has reiterated government’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for Zambia’s poor and vulnerable.

“To fulfil this commitment, we continue to implement targeted programmes that support incapacitated households, such as those headed by the elderly, persons with disabilities, child-headed families, and individuals living with chronic illnesses through non-contributory assistance like the Social Cash Transfer Programme,” she said.

Ms. Mwamba said Zambia has faced a series of shocks in recent years, most notably the severe drought during the 2023/2024 farming season, declared a national disaster by President Hakainde Hichilema on February 29, 2024.

As part of the emergency response, 952,570 households were targeted across all 116 districts, with 726,361 of them located in the 84 most severely affected districts. These households were enrolled in the ECT programme.

In addition, 1.3 million households already receiving regular SCT support were provided with top-up payments to help them cope with the crisis.

"Through these combined efforts, over two million households across Zambia received essential support during this difficult time," said Ms. Mwamba. "This safety net, backed by generous support from our cooperating partners, was designed to ease the drought’s impact over a 12-month period from May 2024 to April 2025."

She has also underscored the role of the Cash for Work programme in supporting crisis-hit communities.

Coordinated in partnership with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and local councils, the initiative offers short-term employment to vulnerable individuals, engaging them in public works such as road maintenance, drainage clearing, tree planting, and water conservation.

“This dual-benefit approach not only empowers households economically, but also supports local development and builds climate resilience,” she said.

Ms. Mwamba has cited both government assessments and independent evaluations, which indicate that Zambia’s social protection interventions have had far-reaching positive impacts.

These include improvements in food security, household nutrition, and access to health and education services. They have also helped prevent harmful coping strategies, such as asset sales and school dropouts, while enabling small-scale livelihood investments like poultry farming and trading.

“In doing so, these interventions have supported rural economies, stimulated local markets, and uplifted small businesses across the country,” she said.

Ends.

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