Development Of a Specialized Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for the 1000-Days Social Cash Transfer Pilot Project in The Chipata District of Eastern Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i6.16Keywords:
1000-Days Social Cash Transfer, Dietary Diversity, Child Nutrition, Maternal nutrition, Gender Equity and Women's Empowerment, Implementation Fidelity, ZambiaAbstract
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the 1000-Days Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Gender and Nutrition-Sensitive pilot project in Chipata District, Zambia. The research aimed to evaluate the program's implementation fidelity, its impact on maternal and child nutritional status, and its effectiveness in promoting gender equity and women's empowerment in vulnerable households. A convergent parallel mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing quantitative questionnaires administered to 379 beneficiary households alongside qualitative insights derived from 11 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and 3 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitative results were analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Key quantitative findings indicated significant improvements in nutritional outcomes and gender empowerment. For children under 24 months, 75.2% consumed solid foods 3 to 5 times daily, and 52.8% of participants reported a significant improvement in their child's nutritional status. Pregnant and breastfeeding women displayed improved dietary practices, with 96.6% consuming dark green leafy vegetables. The project increased women's economic control and decision-making power, as 88.4% of payments were made to female heads of household or spouses, and 73.9% of female respondents felt much more or somewhat more confident in making decisions about their children's nutrition and health. Inferential analysis confirmed a statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.241, P<0.001) between the SCT payment amount and maternal dietary diversity, and that caregiver's education level had a statistically significant effect on women’s decision-making authority (P < .001). Qualitative data reinforced these findings, highlighting that strong community involvement through Community Welfare Assistant Committees (CWACs) and effective coordination with health services were critical success factors. However, key challenges identified include resistance from some male household members related to gender norms and delays in payment disbursement. The study concludes that the 1000-Days SCT pilot project was largely implemented as designed, resulting in notable improvements in maternal and child nutritional status and bolstering women's decision-making power over household resources. Recommendations include strengthening community capacity, integrating climate-resilient strategies, and leveraging technology for payment disbursement. The study contributes significantly by proposing a specialized M&E framework tailored for nutrition-sensitive SCTs.
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