Mother and Early Childhood Grant
Unconditional cash assistance to enhance the impact of social protection services in child and family wellbeing in Lao PDR.
Cash assistance stands as one of the most efficient ways to support vulnerable communities due to its quick, safe and reliable delivery. Under the MECG programme, cash assistance were provided to pregnant women and babies between 0-12 months in Lao PDR.
MECG supported pregnant women and lactating mothers with a bi-monthly payment of 300,000 LAK to enable them to access adequate nutrition and healthcare services in the first 1000 days of their child’s life. Beneficiaries received the assistance via U-Money, an electronic payment app, or a cash-to-door approach.
The initiative assisted at least 2,000 children aged 0-12 months via an integrated package of welfare services, including the cash assistance, early childhood wellbeing services and support for birth registration.
The MECG pilot is part of the United Nation’s Joint-Programme (UNJP) entitled “Leaving no one behind: Establishing the basis for social protection floors in Lao PDR”, a joint initiative between UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
The implementation of the UNJP is led by MOLSW in partnership with relevant ministries, the provincial and district authorities of the pilot districts and the UN in Lao PDR. The pilot cash assistance has been implemented since January 2020 in the districts of Sanamxay and Phouvong districts of Attapeu and Nong district of Savannakhet.
The programme is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Joint SDG Funds on Social Protection, with MOLSW leading and coordinating its implementation at both the national and sub-national levels, with technical support from UNICEF Lao PDR.