https://goo.gl/sZ7V7x

Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT)
Programme
Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT)
Country
Zimbabwe
Geographic area
Sub-Saharan Africa
Previous programme name (if any) Public Assistance (which is being phased out,
but still exists in districts where there is no HSCT) 1
Start date 2011 2
Programme objectives
To increase households’ consumption to a level above the food poverty
line; reduce the number of ultra-poor households; and help beneficiaries
avoid risky coping strategies (such as child labour and early marriage). 2
Programme type Unconditional cash transfer 2
Programme components
Beneficiaries are also entitled to educational fee waivers, the Basic
Education Assistance Module (BEAM) and a non-contributory health
insurance—the Assisted Medical Treatment Order (AMTO). 1
Conditionalities (if any)
Targeting methods Proxy means-testing with community verification 1
Target areas
By 2012, 10 districts had been enrolled. Currently there are 19 districts
enrolled. The government plans to scale up the programme to all districts. 1
Target groups Ultra-poor households 2
Eligibility criteria
Households that are both labour-constrained and food-poor.
Eligibility reassessment (if any) Reassessment is conducted every two years. 1
Type of benefits Cash 4
Amount of benefits From USD10–USD25 per month based on household size 2
Payment/delivery frequency Bi-monthly 2
Benefit delivery mechanism Cash-in-transit delivered at pay points 1
Benefit recipients Head of household 2
Minimum and maximum
Minimum of two years; eligibility based on reassessment thereafter. 1
duration of benefits (if any)
Coverage 52,049 beneficiary households; 236,013 individual beneficiaries (2015)
Programme expenditure USD6.9 million (2011)
The current annual expenditure is estimated at USD14.5 million. 1,3
Institutions and agencies involved Government of Zimbabwe; UNICEF 2
Monitoring and evaluation
mechanisms and frequency
Baseline and impact evaluations (at 12 and 36 months).
Independent end-user verification by an audit during
and after every payment cycle.
Programme-level routine monitoring every payment
cycle for a minimum of 50 per cent of the districts.
Annual donor reviews. 1
See the references on page 198: Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT)
160 | Social Protection in Africa: inventory of non-contributory programmes