Result achieved
Outcome summary
In June 2022, the Government of the Republic of Zambia approved the implementation of the Cash Plus Approach in its social protection programming, aiming to enhance the comprehensiveness of social protection coverage enjoyed by nearly 1 million current ...
Outcome achieved
In June 2022, the Government of the Republic of Zambia approved the implementation of the Cash Plus Approach in its social protection programming, aiming to enhance the comprehensiveness of social protection coverage enjoyed by nearly 1 million current social cash transfer (SCT) beneficiaries. The approach, as articulated in the form of a Cabinet Memorandum providing policy guidance across all government ministries, is based upon a concept note and roadmap for the Cash Plus approach, which outline targeted linkages between SCT and complimentary social protection services, including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Implementation of the approach is coordinated by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services whose role has been established to address inter-generational transmission of poverty, the multi-dimensionality of poverty and the need to combine a social protection floor (which is provided by the SCT) with a social protection ladder (which would be other programmes, such as empowerment programmes that help beneficiaries find sustainable income generation so that they can get out of poverty and eventually exit the SCT). A fully institutionalised Cash Plus Approach shifts service provision from trying to provide a minimum to everybody towards providing a comprehensive response to the multiple needs of a particular household.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
The ILO, through the UN-Joint Programme and the IRISH AID project played a very critical role in supporting a microsimulation research exercise through a tax-benefit analysis model called the Micro-ZAMOD. The research was spearheaded by the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) with technical support from UNU-WIDER, Southern African Social Protection Experts Network (SASPEN), SASPRI, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Other stakeholders involved included the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services and other line Ministries selected across the Human and Social Development Cluster of the 8th National Development Plan. The findings of the research were launched through a Policy Brief which fed into the policy recommendations for the Cash Plus Policy Approach, which was eventually approved by Cabinet.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
The introduction of NHIS extends access to important maternal health services provided by accredited health service suppliers throughout the country based upon principles of solidarity and risk pooling equally among female and male contributors to the scheme. The actuarial valuation strengthens the fiscal balance and resulting sustainability of the scheme to continue providing gender equitable coverage with a view toward attaining universal health coverage (UHC) in Zambia.
SDG
Goals
- End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
In partnership
with UN Agencies, excluding IFIs