Cash assistance from Save the Children to vulnerable families has successfully enabled them to manage the impacts of COVID-19.
The NGO’s reports show 85 per cent of the assisted families used the funds to purchase food and basic needs such as clothing, water, paid for rent or home repairs.
Vulnerable households also used the cash to purchase cleaning and hygiene products to keep their homes COVID-safe during the height of the pandemic.
This first phase of Save the Children’s cash transfer project helped 16,772 households. A total of 49 per cent of families surveyed by Save the Children reported putting some money toward their children’s education.
A recipient, who lives in a village in Tailevu, said the assistance came just in time after his pregnant wife went into labour.
“The whole of Saturday and Sunday, I was thinking about where I can get the money,” he said.
“I had a call that my wife had given birth. I didn’t even have a dollar in my pocket.” It was only at the hospital that he was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“I picked up my phone, and I saw the message, that I got the $200.
“That cash I spent on the baby, so during those three or four days they were in the hospital, I could go and look after them and buy lunch and dinner.”
Between December 2020 and June 2021, about 14,772 households received four monthly payments of $100 as part of the program, while a one-off payment of $400 was made to 2000 families.
Parents reported the cash assistance reduced their stress levels, provided a sense of dignity, and empowered families to meet their own needs.
Another recipient lives in a public housing block on the outskirts of Suva with his five children. He said he was grateful to Save the Children for the help.
“That night I received the text message and to tell you the truth, at home, we had nothing at all,” he said.
He added that receiving this assistance was a blessing in disguise for him and his family. “My water and electricity bills were piled up.
“I took that $200 to do the shopping for my family. We bought things that we did not have at home and paid the bills as well.”
A total of $6.7 million was distributed to vulnerable households in the first phase of the project, which was from December 2020 to June 2021.
Save the Children worked through a rigorous process with the Fijian government and civil society partners to identify households eligible for cash transfers.
The project targeted transfers to vulnerable families who had lost income because of COVID-19, prioritising single-parent households and those with young children, elderly or unwell people, people with special needs and survivors of gender-based violence.
Save the Children Fiji chief executive officer Shairana Ali said cash was the most effective way to empower people who were affected by the crisis.
“Countries around the world continue to experience devastating waves of COVID-19 and Fiji is no exception,” she said.
“The third wave of the pandemic, compounded by the impact of recent disasters, has shut businesses and closed schools across the country.” Ms Ali hoped these cash transfers could help families make ends meet during this difficult time.
“We are also conscious that children are the most disadvantaged during any humanitarian crisis and therefore, we are pleased to see that parents and guardians are utilising cash assistance to meet the immediate needs of children.
“We are grateful to our private donor and both government and civil society partners for their support in making this program a success.”
Save the Children completed transferring payments for the project’s second phase (September 2021 to January 2022), reaching its target of 39,000 households.
More than $23m was transferred.
