The village of Seles in Kwanza Sul, Angola, faces cold mornings and foggy weather. Despite these challenges, Fatima Domingas, a widow and mother of five, sought assistance at the Integrated Social Action Center (CASI) to secure identity documents for her children. Although Angolan law grants citizens over six years old the right to an ID, many lack this essential document due to daily survival struggles.
Fatima's circumstances improved when she was chosen as a beneficiary of the Kwenda Program. This initiative is Angola's first cash transfer program under the Strengthening the National Social Protection System Project. It is funded by $320 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the Government of Angola and aims to assist 1.6 million poor households across the country, with women making up about 70% of recipients.
Kwenda has enabled Fatima to buy household essentials and start her own farm over two payment cycles. "I am a widow and a single parent to my children," she said. The program reduced her dependence on odd jobs, allowing her family better living conditions and hope for a brighter future.
The program also helps beneficiaries like Regina Nhambimbe from Sailundo Novo village in Bailundo municipality. With Kwenda funds, Regina expanded her farm by purchasing seeds and plans to sell produce in Luanda markets for greater income diversity through trade. "My husband has another family...so I work hard so that we don't starve," Regina explained.
Another significant impact is seen in communities where beneficiaries report increased meal frequency after receiving payments compared to those still waiting for assistance.
Productive inclusion initiatives are also part of Kwenda's efforts. Women like Rosélia Navenda, Inês Nachitembo, and Precinta Nhaca have transformed their lives through farming as members of Nikila Village Seed Bank Association. The association started with eight kilos of beans per member; despite droughts affecting crops initially, yields improved significantly over time.
In Calucinga commune, Associação Muda Meu Mundo utilizes pooled funds from Kwenda beneficiaries for fish farming ventures alongside agriculture. Francisca Kussessiya leads this cooperative effort: "We invited our neighbors...to join us."
"These stories demonstrate...transformative role[s] [of] social protection investments," stated Boban Varghese Paul from World Bank Task Team Leader regarding long-term investment needs alongside human capital development within related sectors such as financial inclusion or digitization projects supporting national growth goals further emphasized by Juan Carlos Alvarez’s remarks on new financing phases benefiting additional households nationwide under continued support partnerships between international organizations/governments alike focused around sustainable progress toward shared prosperity objectives overall ultimately impacting nearly one million families thus far since inception across diverse regions throughout broader geographic contexts involving thousands upon thousands individual communities actively participating collectively striving towards meaningful change locally/globally altogether working together collaboratively achieving common aims successfully moving forward into future endeavors ahead while building resilience against poverty-related challenges faced today tomorrow next generation(s).