The village of Catanha Bandi in Angola's Huila province has seen significant changes thanks to the Strengthening the National Social Protection System Project, which supports Kwenda, the country's first cash transfer program. The program has helped residents move away from a dependency on humanitarian aid.
Joana Katchisapa, a 38-year-old mother of five, shared how Kwenda impacted her family. "Kwenda saved my relationship with my husband and brought peace to our home. Before Kwenda, there was a lot of conflict in our household with my husband and daughters because we had very little and struggled with hunger," she said. With funds from the program, Joana expanded her farm and improved her family's living conditions.
Kwenda has also benefited others in the community by facilitating the purchase of a mill for grain processing. Domingos Tchova now works as a mill operator. "Every day, we grind five or six tubs of corn, soybeans, or sorghum," he explained.
Conceição Sapi da Silva from Cacula shared similar success after receiving support through Kwenda for cooperative work. “Our cooperative has 38 members... We have created a bakery that makes 1000 loaves daily from maize and sorghum,” she said.
Kwenda reaches over 1.3 million households across Angola with cash transfers and support for productive inclusion activities like skills training and business grants. As it enters its second phase under the Enhancing the Social Protection System for Human Capital and Resilience Project, it aims to further improve child development and maternal health services.
Emma Monsalve from the World Bank emphasized the importance of addressing malnutrition: “Addressing malnutrition in young children and pregnant women is like planting seeds in a garden."
In Otchinjau village in Cunene province, Crescer interventions have made significant health impacts on children’s well-being according to Rosa Nitia: "My children are receiving the help they need to eat well and are growing healthy."
The project will continue collaborating with health sectors using Community and Health Development Agents (ADECOS) to ensure families receive necessary education and resources.