Emily Ndamera, a 43-year-old widowed mother of two from Nsanje District, struggled to make ends meet last year. Despite receiving monthly social cash transfers since 2020, she barely had enough to feed herself and her children. The Social Cash Transfer Programme, launched in 2006, aims to support ultra-poor households.
Ndamera’s life took a turn for the worse when the government devalued the local currency by 43% in November 2023. Her monthly income could only buy half of what it previously could. Fearing for her survival, she took on piecework to make ends meet.
However, her fortunes changed when the Minister of Finance announced measures to cushion the poor from the effects of the devaluation. The monthly social cash transfers were increased to K150,000, and the number of beneficiaries was raised by 15%. Ndamera was overjoyed and felt a sense of hope.
With the increased social cash transfers, Ndamera can now afford to buy a bag of maize and has started making fritters for sale. She has also expanded her vegetable business and joined a village savings and loans group.
The Government of Malawi and its partners provide social cash transfers to labor-constrained and ultra-poor households. The monthly sums vary depending on the number of children and poverty levels.
Nsanje district commissioner Dominic Mwandira stated that over K1.6 billion has been paid out to over 7,000 beneficiaries in the district. The government implements the social protection initiative through the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare.
The spokesperson for the ministry, Pauline Kaude, said the increase in payouts has empowered recipients to overcome poverty. Ndamera’s life is a testament to this, and she is grateful for the timely boost.
