On June 9, 2013 a delegation of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, led by the Honourable Minister Anita Kalinde M.P. visited the Cash Transfer Program in Machinga district. During the trip, the delegation visited a few beneficiary households to learn how they are faring and what impact the cash transfers are having on their lives. The delegation also visited a paypoint to witness the delivery of transfers to beneficiary households.
One of the core assignments of our consultancy in Malawi is the Financial Management of the KfW donor funding to the Social Cash Transfer Program. In light of this, this month Kyle Denny from Ayala Consulting made a presentation for the Ministry Officials to guide them through the newly developed financial management structures. These structures are to be implemented at both national and district levels.
In November 2012, the Cash Transfer Program started its re-targeting activities. While information from current beneficiary households is being re-collected, the program is also gradually expanding its coverage in the districts which also includes new areas in Salima and Mangochi districts for the purposes of an impact evaluation study. Previously, the program covered 28,000 households, after (re) targeting the program is expected to reach slightly more than 60,000 households in seven districts, out of which one-third has now been (re) targeted.
While the (re) targeting activities are steadily progressing, Ayala Consulting held consultation meetings on May 16-17 2013 with the Ministry's officials and the district teams to brainstorm about improvements in the manual transfer process and to set up an effective case management system. These new processes are expected to be implemented by July 2013.
