USAID GIVEDIRECTLY I MAY MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT

The program provides digital unconditional cash transfers through mobile money to support micro-entrepreneurs, market traders, smallholder farmers, and the rural poor. The overarching goal is to protect the value of assets and avoid increases in debt by providing smaller, regular cash transfers that provide an alternative means of meeting basic needs. During the reporting period from April 15 to May 15, 2021, GiveDirectly scaled up field verification activities and conducted targeted enrollment 'clean-up' in all markets on lists submitted by the Liberia Marketers Association (LMA). The National Ebola Survivors Network of Liberia (NESNL) submitted lists of 820 Ebola survivors, with 92% of recipients verified. GiveDirectly sent 12 million Liberian Dollars to these recipients, with follow-up data indicating that 21% of recipients paid to date are market traders or micro-entrepreneurs, 20.5% are smallholder farmers, 64.3% are women, and 16.9% are youth. The most common expenditure among recipients is buying things for an existing business (55.2% of recipients), followed by education for someone else (29.6%) and food (27.1%). Eight percent of surveyed recipients reported spending on agricultural inputs, 6.3% reported starting a new business, and 5% have added to their savings. The percentage of recipients that report bribery or theft from program inception to date has decreased from 1% reported last month to 0.7%. GiveDirectly has received 69,982 potential recipients and conducted preliminary verification checks on all lists received to date. The organization has sent 59,990 payments and 464,922,500 Liberian dollars to 31,132 verified recipients so far. Field visits to identify recipients without phone numbers in markets uncovered inclusion of individuals who were not registered traders in markets on lists submitted by the LMA. These findings were limited to 9 markets in Montserrado, with only 6% of listed recipients without phone numbers found in the markets. GiveDirectly has implemented measures to address data quality discrepancies detected on the LMA lists, including enrolling individuals who meet specific criteria, such as being present on market registration records and having their identity vouched for by other traders. The organization has also cross-checked GD enrollment data from all markets before enrollment to avoid potential double-registration. Despite challenges encountered, GiveDirectly is confident that its processes will maintain the integrity of the Activity and protect GD and its donors from reputational risk. The program has made significant progress in reaching recipients, with a 28% increase in the number of individuals participating in USG-assisted group-based savings, micro-finance, or lending programs. The percentage of recipients who report receiving grants has increased to 97.8%, and the percentage of recipients who are women has decreased to 64.3%. The speed of grant delivery has improved, with 80.8% of recipients receiving their first payment within 40 days of first contact. The percentage of recipients who report being able to withdraw transfers has increased to 98.9%, and the percentage of recipients who report bribery or theft related to transfers has decreased to 0.7%.