Cash transfer programme addressing humanitarian need of families in South Sudan
Over 70% of the population in South Sudan is in need of humanitarian assistance. Giving mothers and caregivers a cash payment every month for six months helps them care for their young children and sustain their households.
Maka, a mother of two, is both happy and grateful to the donors who funded the programme. She hopes it will be expanded to other areas where many women are in need. Maka first learned about the registration for mothers with children under 2 years old when she visited Yida PHCC a few months ago. She is relieved to receive the money, especially as the country’s current economic situation is challenging. "Do you know one tin of sorghum now costs 20,000 SSP (approx. US $4)?" Maka shares. With the money she received from the cash distribution programme, she plans to buy a sack of sorghum, some onions, sugar, and fruit for her children. When asked about how she plans to use the money, she said,
As I am receiving this money as a mother of 2-year-old, I’m keeping it to myself to spend on food and other essentials as I see fit. While this is my money, I am also going to give 20,000 SSP to my husband as he earns for the family.
“Sometimes because of fear women might not come to register”, Abel shares. She highlights that the gender-based violence and domestic violence in Yida is quite high.
The cash distribution to women is a big help as they can buy nutritious food for their children. Some of these women even invest it in small businesses such as cooking and selling food in the market.
Abel thinks that the number of women beneficiaries needs to increase as there are a lot of families in need.
Salua attended the mother and child screening session, followed by an information session on gender-based violence at YIDA Public Health Care Center, before collecting funds from the cash distribution program. During the nutrition screening, she learned that her 15-month-old daughter had moderate malnutrition. "I only just found out that my child is malnourished, and she will be enrolled in the nutrition programme here," Salua said. While she feels a bit worried, the cash she received will help her purchase food to provide a more balanced diet for her child, along with the Ready to Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) she got from Yida PHCC. "I’m going to buy some sorghum, rice, chicken, and soap today”, Salua shares with a smiling face. Salua, originally from Sudan, fled the war in her hometown in the Nuba Mountains and moved to South Sudan in 2014.
As part of the cash distribution programme, the team organized several activities to ensure smooth implementation and better service delivery. Crowd controllers were assigned to prevent overcrowding, and screenings were conducted for pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children accessing services. “We pass information to these mothers so they understand the importance of bringing their children for immunization and attending antenatal care,” Guor Miyar Mayiik, Nutrition Director for Ruweng Administrative Area explains. During the sessions, women were also informed about the purpose and impact of the cash support. “They really appreciate it they say the money is actually helping them to buy food for their children.
Ngoor Koull Machar has served in the sector for seven years. "Ruweng Administrative Area has made progress toward gender equality”. The ministry continues to promote gender equality and share helpline numbers for cases of gender-based violence.
That is why even in this cash distribution, we tell them this money is not for the men, it’s only for the lactating mother and caretaker of children under two.
Mr. Ngor Koull Machar, Director for Planning and Budgeting for Gender, Child and Social Welfare in the Ruweng Administrative Area, expressed optimism that if the initiative proves effective, the government and UNICEF should expand it to other areas to support pregnant women across Ruweng.
In South Sudan, the UK encourages greater use and expansion of cash transfers and works with partners to meaningfully advance the use of cash, including encouraging work that looks to enhance how humanitarian cash transfers can help achieve longer term goals. “We particularly encourage the use of multipurpose cash assistance wherever possible. We are committed to maximizing benefits for women and girls through gender-sensitive approaches and to build evidence on what works in South Sudan and other fragile, conflict-affected contexts.” says Ms. Peggitty Pollard-Davey, Humanitarian Advisor, British Embassy Juba. The United Kingdom is also the global co-chair of the Donor Cash Forum and recently launched the Common Donor Approach to Humanitarian Cash Assistance which lays out principles, approach, and expectations all partners have signed up to.
Under the Young Child Grant Support funded by FCDO, UNICEF in partnership with state government of Ruweng Administrative Area in Yida is distributing $41 per month (approx. 225,000 equivalent in SSP) to 1,200 households with pregnant, lactating mothers and caregivers of children under 2 years old for a period of one year.
