Airtel Money takes aid to hungry Malawians

The INGO consortium in collaborating with Airtel Malawi launched the integrated cash transfer programme in supporting the humanitarian response by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) – composed of the government, UN agencies and NGOs .

MVAC targets to meet food requirements of close to 700,000 people across 20 districts of Malawi who, as a result of dry spells and erratic rains last year, have not been able to grow enough food to feed their families.

However, the INGO consortium which is comprised of Save the Children, Oxfam, Goal, Concern Universal, Concern WW and Christian Aid will be providing monthly cash transfers to the most vulnerable families over a period of 2 to 4 months.

The consortium estimates that cash transfers will reach approximately 47, 0000 of the most vulnerable households across 10 districts, including about 260,000 individuals and 140,000 children.

Save the Children International Country Director Matthew Pickard said cash has a critical role to play in meeting the food requirements of vulnerable families.

“To those families who will receive cash during this response programme l want to say this that money is yours-no one can take that money away from you. It is for you to use to feed your families. Use it wisely, makes sure you use it to feed your families,” said Pickard.

While the programme is addressing short term emergency needs of vulnerable households through provision of cash entitlements on monthly basis, the programme will also work with communities and vulnerable households in the districts to build their resilience focusing on nutrition messaging, village savings and loans.

The programme is funded by the Irish Aid and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, as well as Save the Children Italy.

Airtel Malawi Country Director Francis Matseketsa said their widest reliable network coverage plus diverse products and services available on Airtel money enable them to carry out this noble initiative by reaching out to all the targeted areas in all the districts earmarked for this project.

Airtel’s role in this programme will be to distribute low cost mobile phones in a bid to facilitate the payment process of cash transfers once they are registered with Airtel money.

“It must be pointed out that so far, Airtel money is the largest and widest mobile banking facility in the country as it has over 735, 000 registered subscribers. This is no mean achievement,” he said

He said apart from receiving social cash transfer through Airtel money, the beneficiaries will be able cash out instantly via their agents.

Matseketsa assured the beneficiaries that they will heavily invest its highly competent, qualified and experienced Airtel money human resource to make this social cash transfer project a success that shall positively impact on lives on many.

All in all, Matseketsa applauded Save the Children for collaborating with Airtel on this project.

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