Funded by the European Union (EU), Danish (DanidaA) and German (German Federal Foreign Office) governments, the consortium's Covid-19 Safety-Nets in form of mobile cash transfers, targets 120,000 most vulnerable Kenyans living in Nairobi and Mombasa's expansive informal settlements. The recipients consist of households unable to meet their basic necessities during Covid-19 due to reduced or loss of their sources of livelihood. The consortium comprises Oxfam in Kenya, The Kenya Red Cross Society, Concern Worldwide, Impact, Acted, Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness (Creaw) and The Wangu Kanja Foundation. Their mobile (M-Pesa) cash transfers beneficiaries include 1, 445 survivors of SGBV and those at risk in Nairobi and about 2,200 in Mombasa. Other vulnerable groups specifically targeted for the safety nets are pregnant and lactating mothers, the elderly, the disabled, the chronically ill, orphans and struggling domestic workers. The Covid-19 mobile cash transfers initiative complements the government of Kenya's flagship national safety net program, Inua Jamii. Run by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Inua Jamii has enrolled about 11,250 vulnerable families in Nairobi's informal settlements who receive a Sh2,000 monthly M-Pesa transfer. The consortium then tops up with a complimentary of Sh5,668 to make a total of Sh7,668 per recipient. Those not with Inua Jamii receive a monthly Sh7,668. The money is aimed at helping the beneficiaries meet at least 50 per cent of their basic necessities such as food, rent, water, soap and phone credit. EU Ambassador for Kenya Simon Mordue observed that providing a lifeline for the most affected people in vulnerable households at the informal settlements was key in countering the worst effects of the nasty Covid-19.
Kenya: Cash-Transfer Giving Life-Line to Needy SGBV Survivors
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