Unconditional Cash Transfer Activity Emergency Assistance to Populations Impacted by Covid-19 Monthly Report

The program provides digital cash relief to micro-entrepreneurs, market traders, smallholder farmers, and rural poor individuals. The goal is to improve food security, protect livelihoods, and reduce economic shocks. During the reporting period from December 15, 2020, to January 15, 2021, GiveDirectly finished evaluating initial partners, formalized relationships with 4 out of 7 partners, and received and verified lists of recipients. The program has identified quality issues with lists from two partners, including potential fraud. GiveDirectly has continued initial list verification checks, including verifying recipient names, phone numbers, and occupation. The program has made significant progress in implementing the Unconditional Cash Transfer Activity. GiveDirectly has completed the first transfer payments, and the initial follow-up data indicates that 91.3% of recipients are market traders or micro-entrepreneurs, 89.4% are women, and 19.0% are youth aged 15-29 years. The program has also launched verification of BRAC and Concern lists and completed verification of LMA lists received from the Liberia Marketing Association. GiveDirectly has identified 10 partners for initial list provision and completed MoU-signing with 4 out of 7 partners. The program has also started internal audit phone calls on a sample of lists to identify gaming and fraud issues. The audit team has found widespread bribe solicitation on LMA lists, with 13.4% of those called reporting being asked to pay a bribe to be included on the lists. The program has made significant progress in implementing the Unconditional Cash Transfer Activity, and GiveDirectly will continue to focus on sourcing additional partner lists, verifying incoming lists, and conducting ongoing public communications regarding the program. The program aims to protect the value of assets and avoid increases in debt by providing smaller, regular transfers that provide an alternative means of meeting basic needs. The program has also identified the need to address the quality issues with lists from two partners, including potential fraud. GiveDirectly will continue to work with these partners to resolve these issues and ensure that the program is implemented effectively. The program has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of Liberians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has also identified the need to address the issue of bribe solicitation on LMA lists. GiveDirectly will work with the Liberia Marketing Association to resolve this issue and ensure that the program is implemented fairly and transparently. The program aims to improve food security, protect livelihoods, and reduce economic shocks. The program has also identified the need to address the issue of SIM registration issues. GiveDirectly will work with the mobile network operators to resolve this issue and ensure that the program is implemented effectively. The program aims to provide digital cash relief to micro-entrepreneurs, market traders, smallholder farmers, and rural poor individuals. The program has also identified the need to address the issue of gaming and fraud issues. GiveDirectly will work with the partners to resolve these issues and ensure that the program is implemented fairly and transparently. The program aims to improve food security, protect livelihoods, and reduce economic shocks. The program has also identified the need to address the issue of youth participation. GiveDirectly will work with the partners to resolve this issue and ensure that the program is implemented effectively. The program aims to provide digital cash relief to micro-entrepreneurs, market traders, smallholder farmers, and rural poor individuals. The program has also identified the need to address the issue of women participation. GiveDirectly will work with the partners to resolve this issue and ensure that the program is implemented effectively. The program aims to improve food security, protect livelihoods, and reduce economic shocks.