Monitoring of Beneficiaries of Vulnerable Households Under the Economic Safety Net Scheme in Hen Mpoano Project Communities (First Report)

The intervention aimed to prevent the spread and mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 among vulnerable households. To achieve this, the project supported fisher folks to stay safe and healthy, thereby sustaining seafood supply and distribution. The project identified and selected vulnerable fishing households and provided them with monthly income to enhance their livelihoods and daily needs. The households received cash transfers from USAID/SFMP, which they used to meet their basic needs, including food, healthcare, and other essential expenses. The cash transfers were provided through a mobile money system, allowing beneficiaries to access the funds easily and conveniently. A survey was conducted to monitor the beneficiaries of the cash transfers and assess their usage, challenges, and recommendations. The survey findings indicated that the beneficiaries used the cash transfers primarily for food, healthcare, and other essential expenses. However, some beneficiaries faced challenges in retrieving the cash assistance, including difficulties in accessing mobile money services and limited access to financial services. The survey also revealed that the cash transfers had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the beneficiaries, enabling them to meet their basic needs and improve their overall well-being. The project's intervention was seen as a pragmatic approach to deliver social and economic safety net packages to vulnerable fishing households, mitigating the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SFMP's COVID-19 response component was implemented in collaboration with various partners, including the Coastal Resources Center, Hen Mpoano, and other local organizations. The project's efforts were aimed at supporting the fishing communities to stay safe and healthy, while also sustaining seafood supply and distribution. The project's success in implementing the COVID-19 response component was seen as a critical step in minimizing the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable households in fishing communities. The project's methodology involved data collection and analysis to assess the impact of the cash transfers on the beneficiaries. The survey findings were used to inform the project's recommendations and improve the delivery of social and economic safety net packages to vulnerable fishing households. The project's conclusions highlighted the importance of effective and pragmatic approaches to deliver social and economic safety net packages to vulnerable households, particularly during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's recommendations included the need for continued support to vulnerable fishing households, improved access to financial services, and enhanced capacity building for local organizations to deliver social and economic safety net packages. The project's success in implementing the COVID-19 response component was seen as a critical step in supporting the fishing communities to stay safe and healthy, while also sustaining seafood supply and distribution.