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Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Zambia’s most vulnerable citizens with the launch of the revised Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Guidelines and the revised Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS) Guidelines.
Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Doreen Mwamba, who officiated at the launch in Lusaka on Tuesday, said the revised frameworks signaled a renewed national pledge that no vulnerable household will be left behind across all 116 districts.
She described the launch as more than a policy achievement, calling it a renewal of the government’s promise to strengthen social protection and ensure inclusive national development.
Mwamba highlighted the SCT programme as one of government’s flagship interventions, noting its proven role in improving household welfare, increasing school attendance, enhancing food security, and restoring dignity through predictable and reliable income support.
She also emphasized the enduring importance of the PWAS, which dates back to the 1950s and continues to provide emergency and short-term support to the elderly, persons with disabilities, the chronically ill, destitute families, and individuals affected by crises.
The minister explained that the revised guidelines introduced strengthened targeting and enrolment processes, modernised payment systems with enhanced safeguards, and a greater focus on secure digital payments.
She added that the reforms also placed emphasis on shock-responsive and nutrition-sensitive support, improved public finance management and internal controls, and a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework.
According to Mwamba, these enhancements respond to lessons learned over time and the expanding scale and complexity of social protection programmes.
She stressed that social protection must be viewed not as charity but as a strategic investment in people, human capital, and national development.
World Bank Representative, Nadia Salim, disclosed that the Bank has cumulatively invested approximately US$800 million in the SCT and other social protection programmes in Zambia over the past decade.
She commended the government for achieving a substantial milestone that reflected dedicated leadership committed to the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Henri Heikura also praised the government for its strong leadership and continued investment in programmes aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability.
He highlighted the adoption of digital payment systems, including mobile money solutions, which he said have significantly improved efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion.
Speaking on behalf of the Cooperating Partners, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Head of Human Development, Nicola Oldham, welcomed the incorporation of indexation in the revised guidelines.
She said this reform was important because it ensured that payments retained their value over time and were not eroded by rising food prices. Oldham added that the updated guidelines would help ensure Social Cash Transfers reached the poorest and most vulnerable people in Zambia.
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