Cash-for-work programme revised for 2026, govt targets 1.5 million beneficiaries

The government has launched the 2026 Revised Cash for Work (R-CFW) Programme, expanding its coverage to all 116 districts and targeting over 1.5 million beneficiaries nationwide, as part of efforts to cushion vulnerable communities from economic and climate-related shocks.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gift Sialubalo, said the revised programme builds on lessons learnt from Phase I and demonstrated the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and social protection.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday, Sialubalo said the programme was initially introduced in response to the severe drought experienced during the 2023/2024 farming season, which prompted President Hakainde Hichilema to declare the drought a National Disaster and Emergency on February 29, 2024.

He explained that the programme complemented other government interventions such as food relief, low-cost food distribution, and the expansion of the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

Phase I of the programme ran from August 2024 to June 2025. At its 24th meeting on December 8, 2025, Cabinet approved the revised programme to strengthen implementation, enhance transparency, and broaden its impact.

“The expansion from 87 to 116 districts ensures that no part of Zambia is left behind. The Revised Cash for Work Programme is expected to benefit 1,548,277 people over a six-month period, subject to availability of funds,” Sialubalo said.

Key improvements in the revised programme include enhanced targeting and verification systems, improved payment mechanisms, strengthened grievance redress processes, and a more robust scope of works focused on climate-resilient and skills-enhancing public works.

Sialubalo noted that the programme will move away from low-impact activities, prioritising works that contributed to environmental sustainability and long-term community development.

He added that beneficiary selection would be community-driven, supported by digital verification tools and integrated national social protection systems to eliminate duplication and promote accountability.

The Minister called on local authorities, particularly in Luapula, Muchinga, and Northern Provinces—which were not part of Phase I—to fully embrace the programme and ensure effective implementation.

“As government, we remain committed to creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and transforming lives, especially in rural areas,” Sialubalo said as he officially declared the Revised Cash for Work Programme launched.

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