Turning Social Protection Into Lasting Opportunity

Mussa Honde feeds his dairy cows at his homestead in Ekwaiweni

At 67, Mussa Honde of Ekwaiweni never anticipated that a single investment decision would alter the trajectory of his life. For years, he relied on the government's Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) to make ends meet, struggling to provide for his family and fulfill basic needs.

Today, however, he proudly gestures towards a dairy cow grazing near his home, a testament to newfound stability. "Life has now improved. The cow has become a source of income and stability for my family," he states.

The cow not only supplies milk for consumption and sale but also produces manure, which Mussa now uses to enhance his fields. This has decreased his reliance on costly fertilizers while boosting his crop yields, an unexpected yet significant step towards both economic and environmental resilience.

In Engcongoleni, Wezi Nyirongo is part of a village savings and loans (VSL) group that has transformed her financial narrative. Prior to joining the group, access to capital was nearly unattainable.

Today, she confidently speaks about the collective strength of her group. "We shared over K9 million kwacha ($5,181) in just one year. That was never possible before," she explains.

Through regular savings, internal lending, and shared investments, Wezi and her peers are not only addressing household needs but also expanding small businesses ranging from trading agricultural produce to small retail ventures. For many women in the group, this represents their first genuine experience with financial independence.

Wezzie Nyirongo's group tends to their pigs, a collective investment that is strengthening household incomes and building resilience

A few kilometers away in Emsizini, Joyce Mvula has taken entrepreneurship beyond the local market. Starting with a modest K96,000, she ventured into the textiles business, sourcing products and selling them across the border in South Africa.

Some group members have invested in iron sheets, transitioning from grass-thatched houses to more durable and secure roofing as their incomes improve

Her determination has yielded results. "I have been able to make up to K350,000 ($201) from my business," she says.

Joyce’s group has also embraced collective investment, generating K3.4 million through farming and other income-generating activities. The income has enabled members to pay school fees, improve housing, and invest in productive assets, clear indicators of upward mobility.

Beyond the numbers, these stories reflect a profound shift. Households are not only earning more; they are eating better. Many families are now practicing backyard gardening, rearing small livestock, and adopting improved nutrition practices. Children are consuming more diverse diets, and instances of food shortages are gradually declining.

Environmental stewardship is also gaining ground. With training on sustainable agriculture, beneficiaries are using manure to produce organic fertilizer, practicing conservation farming, and participating in tree planting initiatives to restore degraded land. What was once a cycle of depletion is slowly transforming into a culture of regeneration.

Equally significant is the transformation within households. Through structured discussions and training, men and women are beginning to make joint decisions on finances and investments. Women, once marginalized, are now active contributors to household planning and community leadership.

These changes are not coincidental.

They result from the Social Protection for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project, a “cash-plus” initiative that builds on the foundation of the SCTP.

The SP-GEAR project is funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland through UNICEF. CRECCOM is supporting the implementation of the project in two district councils of Zomba and Mzimba and is designed to help ultra-poor households transition from dependency to self-reliance.

Unlike traditional cash transfer programs, SP-GEAR integrates financial support with practical interventions. Beneficiaries receive business and financial literacy training, are organized into village savings and loans groups, and are supported with climate-smart agriculture techniques and mentorship through Community-Based Trainers (CBTs) and gender champions.

In Mzimba North alone, over 220 groups are actively engaged in income-generating activities, reflecting the growing scale of impact.

Chikuni: "Real change happening"

Mankhaule: "They can stand on their own"

According to CRECCOM Projects Officer Chikumbutso Chikuni, the shift is evident across communities. "We are seeing real change. Beneficiaries are not only receiving cash but also gaining skills to become economically independent," he said.

Community Development Officer for Mzimba North, Liny Mankhaule, adds that the approach is intentionally designed for sustainability.

"We are equipping beneficiaries with practical skills in business and farming as well as capacity building so they can stand on their own even after graduating from the Social Transfer Program," she explained.

By combining income generation, nutrition, environmental conservation, and gender empowerment, SP-GEAR is redefining what social protection can achieve.

For beneficiaries like Mussa, Wezi, and Joyce, the program is no longer just about survival; it is about building a future.