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Nominee Information

Institutional Information
Member State Zambia
Institution Name DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE
Institution Type Ministry
Ministry Type MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Administrative Level National
Name of initiative Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
Projects Operational Years 11
Website of Institution mcdmch.gov.zm

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.
2017.1.7 Introduces mechanisms that ensure that public officials are informed about the special needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, trained and equipped to meet them and held accountable when these needs are ignored or when the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable people are not protected.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 15 Apr 2003

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
United Nations Children’s Fund
Please provide details Technical support towards implementation and evaluation of the programme

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? Circular from Cabinet Office

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.
2017.1.7 Introduces mechanisms that ensure that public officials are informed about the special needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, trained and equipped to meet them and held accountable when these needs are ignored or when the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable people are not protected.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 15 Apr 2003

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
United Nations Children’s Fund
Please provide details Technical support towards implementation and evaluation of the programme

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? Circular from Cabinet Office

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative

Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.
2017.1.7 Introduces mechanisms that ensure that public officials are informed about the special needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, trained and equipped to meet them and held accountable when these needs are ignored or when the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable people are not protected.

Question 3: Implementation Date

Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 15 Apr 2003

Question 4: Partners/Stakeholders

Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
United Nations Children’s Fund
Please provide details Technical support towards implementation and evaluation of the programme

Question 5: Required Supplemental Documents

Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 6: UNPSA Awards

Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 7: Other Awards

Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 8: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

Question 9: Validation Consent

Do you have any objections to us inquiring about the initiative for validation purposes? No

How did you know about UNPSA?

How did you know about UNPSA? Circular from Cabinet Office

Nomination form

Questions/Answers

Question 1

Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
PROVIDING SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS TO THE VULNERABLE AND INCAPACITATED HOUSEHOLDS TO ADDRESS EXTREME POVERTY AND THE INTER-GENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF POVERTY. BASED ON VALUATIONS AND STUDIES CONDUCTED THE CASH TRANSFERS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE POVERTY BY 5.4 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND HAS MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF K1.79n
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
REDUCING EXTREME POVERTY AND ELIMINATING INTER-GENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF POVERTY IN SOCIETY
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
- HAS INCLUSIVE AND INNOVATIVE TARGETING CRITERIA - IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DONORS, UN AGENCIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY - HAS INNOVATIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS BOTH MANUAL AND THROUGH PAYMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS - HAS ROBUST AND INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY STRATEGY - PROGRAMME HAS WIDER NATIONAL COVERAGE REACHING OUT TO THE MOST POOREST PEOPLE - PROGRAMME BEING IMPLEMENTED IN DIVERSE SET UPS INCLUDING HARD TO REACH AREAS TO REACH THE POOR - PROGRAMME USES ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION AND HAS INNOVATIVE MODELS INCLUDING PROGRAMMED GRIEVANCE MECHANISM

Question 2

The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
THE PROGRAMME IS IMPLEMENTED IN A TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE MANNER. IT ALSO PRIDES ITSELF IN INNOVATIVENES, INCLUSIVENESS AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITICAL IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURES OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AT COMMUNITY LEVEL, HAS ALSO BROUGHT IN NOT ONLY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION BUT ALSO RECEPTIVITY AND COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP ON THE GAINS OF THE PROGRAMME.

Question 3

The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
THE INITIATIVE IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON CHILDREN, PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, OLDER PERSONS, THE CHRONICALLY ILL ON PALLIATIVE CARE AND WOMEN WITH A HIGHER DEPENDENCY RATIO OF THREE CHILDREN AND ABOVE. THE PROGRAMME PROVIDES DIRECT CASH EVERY BI-MONTHLY TO THE BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS, GIVING THE RECIPIENTS GREATER PURCHASING POWER AND AUTONOMY OF HOW AND WHAT BASIC NEEDS TO MEET FOR THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. THIS ENABLES GOVERNMENT ADDRESS POVERTY AND OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE PEOPLE.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
REDUCED POVERTY AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC STANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES. MORE CHILDREN TAKEN TO SCHOOL AS WELL AS ADDRESSING HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, THERE IS INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY DUE TO ACCESS TO INCOME THEREBY ADDRESSING HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AND VULNERABILITY.

Question 4

The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
ADOPTS A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE 12 STEP CRITERION OF TARGETING THE BENEFICIARIES USING THE ELECTRONIC MOBILE TECHNOLOGY WITH TWO DISTINCTIVE APPROACHES OF LISTING AND ENUMERATION. IN ADDITION, IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET GROUPS UNIQUELY IDENTIFIED.

Question 4b

b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
IT IS AN ADAPTATION FROM OTHER CONTEXT TO SUIT LOCAL SITUATION AND CONTEXT. SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED FROM OTHER REGIONS ESPECIALLY LATIN AMERICA.

Question 4c

c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES WERE AND ARE USED.

Question 5

The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
MALAWI, TANZANIA, ANGOLA AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE HAD TO DEVELOP KEEN INTEREST ON ZAMBIA AND LESSONS OBTAINED

Question 6

The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
THE INITIATIVE IS SUSTAINABLE DUE TO GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT AND FISCALLY MANAGEABLE AS THE PATH THE PROGRAMME HAS TAKEN PROVIDES ITS EVIDENCE.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
THIS IS POSSIBLE DUE TO GOVERNMENT POLICY AND COMMITMENT TO THE PROGRAMME

Question 7

The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
FIRST EVALUATION DONE IN 2008 IN 2010 A COMPREHENSIVE BASELINE EVALUATION CONDUCTED DRAWING LESSONS FROM THE FIRST 2008 EVALUATION. AFTER 2010 BASELINE, FOLLOW UP EVALUATIONS WERE DONE AFTER 24 MONTHS, 30 MONTHS, 36 MONTHS AND 48 MONTHS DRAWING OBSERVATIONS AND LESSONS FROM BENEFICIARIES AND NON-BENEFICIARIES.
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
RESULTS SHOWED BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PROGRESS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS IN ADDRESSING POVERTY AND VULNERABILITY IN SOCIETY AND BENEFITS WERE ACCRUED BEYOND THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES.
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
- HOUSEHOLD INCOME - HOUSEHOLD POVERTY LEVELS - ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH - ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS - HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTIVITY E.G LAND CULTIVATED AND PRODUCE

Question 8

The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDED; - RESEARCHERS - DONORS - POLICY MAKERS - TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP - CIVIL SOCIETY

Question 9

a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INITIATIVE OF THIS NATURE AND SENSITIZATION AND AWARENESS RAISING IS EQUALLY CRITICAL IN UNDERSTANDING ANY INITIATIVE PARTICULARLY AMONGST THOSE THE INITIATIVE IS INTENDED FOR. IT IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVE THE INITIATIVE THAT THE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND SECTOR IS EXPANDED QUICKLY TO REACH MOST CRITICAL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THERE IS ALSO NEED FOR MORE EVALUATIONS TO SHARE LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES WITH SUCH INITIATIVES AND WHOSE EXPERIENCES SHOULD ALSO BE GLOBALLY SHARED.

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