By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, May 10, Mana: Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare has said they are geared towards the social cash transfer retargeting exercise meant to graduate the current beneficiaries and introduce new beneficiaries for the next four-year cycle.

Speaking during a Consultation meeting with stakeholders at the Nkhotakota District Council, Principal Social Welfare Officer in the Ministry, Given Mkisi said according to the programme guidelines, after every four years an assessment is to be carried out to determine beneficiaries that would then graduate to pave way for another group to benefit from the programme.

“During the retargeting, some beneficiaries may continue and some graduate depending on the progress made. Currently 7,742 households are benefiting from the program but as we retarget our target is 8,742 households increasing the number of beneficiary households in Nkhotakota by 1000,” she said.

Chairperson for Nkhotakota District Council, Councilor Charles Chimzukuzuku said as a council they commend the ministry for these meetings as they ensure that all stakeholders in the implementation of this programmes are on the same page aiming for effective implementation of the said programme.

Principal Social Welfare Officer for Nkhotakota, Osward Mwale said the retargeting exercise was timely, stating that the previous beneficiaries have outlived their cycle span. Mwale also said the categorical method of retargeting which will be used in the exercise will improve inclusion and exclusion errors experienced in the last cycle.  

The Social Cash Transfer Programme is a World Bank-funded programme implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) under its Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Programme (SSRLP) and targets 10 percent of ultra-poor households in the country.