WFP asked the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to support its cash transfer projects in the pilot countries of Senegal and Niger. By digitalizing these transfers, WFP hopes to support the genuine financial inclusion of beneficiaries, who will be able to access an account, use it independently and assert their consumer protection rights.
This objective aligns with the UNCDF mission to increase access to and usage of digital financial services. The partnership will help optimize the existing network as well as the digital transfer process of the WFP food aid.
The pilot project will involve various assistance programmes, in particular, the school canteen programme and the social cash transfers to households programme. UNCDF will provide technical assistance to WFP, which will include a human-centered design approach focused on beneficiaries, the development of training modules for trainers, the staffing of agent networks based on actual needs, and the monitoring of technical assistance provided by consulting firms.
The project, which began on 10 October 2018 with a two-day immersion phase in the Matam region of northeastern Senegal, will reach more than 22,000 beneficiaries over the long term. During the immersion, the WFP and UNCDF teams met with beneficiaries to better understand their circumstances, aspirations and challenges as they support themselves and their families.
Original source: UNCDF
Published on 14 December 2018