By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, January 13, Mana: Principal Social Welfare Officer for Kasungu, Victor Williams Nyirenda has hailed the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) saying it has helped to build resilience amongst poor and labour-constrained households.

Nyirenda said this on Monday on the sidelines of a media tour the council organized to appreciate the impact of the social protection initiative which is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project being implemented by Malawi Government through the National Local Government Finance Committee.

He said it is pleasing that many targeted households have acquired life-changing assets that will help the families stand on their own.

"We are excited and satisfied that here in Kasungu we are on the right trajectory as regards achieving the SCTP objective which is to build resilience amongst poor households.

"So far it is pleasing to note that many beneficiary households have acquired assets like livestock while some have invested in various businesses including farming," Nyirenda said.

He hailed the role played by Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP) in providing business management training to SCTP beneficiaries, which has helped them to succeed in their diverse businesses.

Traditional Authority Chilowamatambe urged the beneficiary households to sustain their businesses so that they graduate from the initiative and live independent life.

"I am impressed with various ventures that have been created under the programme. My appeal is that we maintain the momentum so that we get out of poverty and become independent," He said.

One of the beneficiaries Liness Phiri from Traditional Authority Kaomba said she invested her money in a tailoring business which has helped her to build a house and expand her farming activities.

"It's easier now to feed my three children and send them to school. I'm also able to harvest enough such that my household is food secure in all the months of the year," She said.

Another beneficiary James Kwenda from Chilowamatambe said he will use the savings he has made in 2024 through a village savings and loans group to boost his butchery business.

Kasungu District has over 16,000 beneficiaries who have so far received K10.3 billion since the programme rolled out in 2017.

Funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the SCTP aims to create wealth, reduce poverty and improve school attendance and nutrition status amongst economically vulnerable households.