Page 10 - Expanding Social Protection (ESP) Programme - Newsletter

SOCIAL CASH TRANSFERS TO REFUGEES

Government and Partners Pilot

Social Cash Transfers to Older

Refugees in Westnile

n July 2024, Government, Governments and Settlements
through Ministry of levels.
Gender, Labour and Social About 350 elderly refugees have
Development in partnership so far benefited from the pilot. The
I with the UN World Food next 3 years of implementation will
Programme (WFP) introduced the inform the expansion of coverage
Social Cash Transfers to Elderly to other refugee settlement camps.
Refugees (SCTER) programme to In his remarks during one of
provide cash transfers to senior the preparatory meetings at the
citizens aged 80years and above ESP Programme headquarters,
and Persons With Disabilities Mr. Stephen Kasaija, the Head
targeted at 75years, to align with of ESP Programme appreciated
the Senior Citizens Grant. Titus Ouma, Senior Programme development partners for the
Officer, Capacity Building
The programme has been support.
piloted in two WestNile Districts “The initiative has come at a time
of Koboko and Yumbe, in 2 when the demand for support
settlement camps of Lobule nutrition and enhance the through social cash transfers is
(Koboko) and Bidibidi (Yumbe), dignity of elderly refugees massive. Refugees, especially the
with the first cashout delivered 3. Demonstrate the investment elderly, are another vulnerable
on April 2, 2025. The initiative case for extending category that needed this
realizes the goal of the National national Social Protection provision. I am glad the SCTER will
social protection strategy (2024), programmes to refugees. mirror the Senior Citizens Grant in
which provides direction for Social The programme is implemented terms of implementation and so I
Protection programming, including through the Expanding Social envisage seamless delivery of the
extension of social protection Protection (ESP) Programme Programme”, he said.
programmes to refugees. and OPM structures at the Local
Furthermore, the SCTER is in line
with the Refugee Self-Reliance
Model (SRM) developed by both
Office of the Prime Minister
(OPM) and the UN WFP targeting
moderately vulnerable refugees to:
1. Transition individuals from
reliance on general food
assistance to becoming
self-reliant while increasing
labour participation of
especially women/girls
2. Reduce the Number
of people who require
humanitarian assistance,
through provision of basic
income security to improve Technical Team witnesses as the first SCTER beneficiaries receives cash at Bidibidi
Reception Centre Zone 1 on April 2,2025.

10 ESP PROGRAMME NEWSLETTER / MARCH - JUNE 2025