UNICEF cash transfers help mothers in Colombo access nutritious diet as the economic crisis persists

Ms. Kanchana (35) and her little family of four are part of a shanty community located along the Bloemendhal goods rail track in Colombo – one of many underserved housing settlements scattered in and around Sri Lanka’s capital. Their dwelling is meagre; a small kitchen and bedroom she had managed to build on top of her parents’ little shack. 

“We were able to put the four walls together just before the baby was born. We got a small loan, and I pawned my jewellery. But I am glad that we somehow managed to get a place of our own,” she says.

Her baby, Dinali, is 7 months old. While her older daughter, 8-year-old Rochana, goes to school and her husband Chaminda (39) to find work, her she spends her day taking care of the baby. 

Like most others in the community, they too make their livelihoods by tapping into the city’s informal economic sector.  Chaminda switches between running a three-wheel taxi and taking on odd jobs at the nearby port. Her parents are day labourers and their ad hoc working styles allow them to check in on the mother and the baby during the daytime. If she is lucky, with a few greens and groceries for her lunch.  

“This year has been very difficult for us,” Kanchana adds, “with the current situation in the country we find it very difficult to make ends meet. We have to buy special items for the baby and my husband hasn't been able to regularly find work. We have had to borrow money and at times depend on my parents, even for the basic food items.”

“On a good day my husband earns Rs 1500.00 (approx. USD 4.00). After repayment of debts, I get less than Rs 1000.00 (USD 2.70). Some days we don’t get anything. It has been like this since the beginning of the year.”

As Sri Lanka continues to struggle to cope with an economic crisis that has resulted in shortages of staple foods, fuel and medicines, Kanchana and her family are among the increasing number of people unable to access nutritious food.

In August 2022, to support many families like Kanchana’s, UNICEF partnered with the Colombo Municipality Council (CMC) and Sarvodaya to launch a short-term, nutrition-sensitive cash transfer programme.  Funded by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the programme supported mothers with infants aged 0-6 months and aimed to improve their access to nutrition. Under the programme, eligible mothers registered at maternity clinics under the purview of the CMC received up to three monthly tranches of Rs 5000.00 (USD 13.5) each between August and October 2022.  

“I was fortunate to be part of the programme. Having that extra Rs 5000.00 per month made a big difference in what we could afford; we used the money to buy dry rations and supplements for the baby.” 

Like many mothers Kanchana is hopeful that the economic situation will improve. But until then, they are dependent on programmes such as these to pull through. “I hope this programme continues. It will help me provide my baby better quality food as she grows older and becomes less dependent on my milk.”