Page 21 - Social Protection Newsletter

Nsr suCCess storIes

ultimately strengthening deliberate efforts in
“leaving no one behind” in national development
strategies. This represents one of the fastest
growing policy sectors, partly because its main
goal of reducing vulnerability and improving
livelihoods.

Implementation
To fulfill this commitment, Government in
November 2018 agreed to a national rollout of
the SCG under the Social Assistance Grant for
Empowerment. The Government announced the
national rollout beginning in Financial Year2019/20,
and starting with persons who are aged 65 and
above 80 years old while keeping those who were
already benefiting from the SAGE programme
since 2011.
During the International Women’s Day
(IWD) celebrations in Mbale on 8th March
2020, H.E Yoweri K. Museveni launched the roll
out payments, with the idea that payments
would continue to all eligible older persons
around the country thereafter. Soon, however,
Government announced a national lock down
due to Covid-19. The Ministry of Gender, Labour
& Social Development suspended payments of
the grants but went on to review and revise its
registration and payments mechanisms in line
with the national Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs). The SOPs were approved by the Covid-19 Social Assistance UNICEF, launched the Expanding Social Protection
Grant for
National Task Force. National rollout payments Empowerment; programme, with the goal to reduce poverty
resumed in early June and were completed by causing smiles in through establishing a sustainable National
the end of August 2020. many families Social Protection system. Globally, it is now well
To-date, the programme is reaching 304,155 demonstrated that appropriate social protection
older persons (179,750 female, 124,805 male) measures can alleviate poverty and protect more
in all districts in the country (Cumulatively people from falling into poverty.
the programme has reached some 368,537 The Expanding Social Protection programme
people, 216,815 female and 151,722 male; and was designed to achieve two objectives, those
Government, with support from development were: (i) Pilot the social grants through the Social
partners (DFID/FCDO/UKAID and Irish Aid, has Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE)
disbursed a cumulative Shs.429.8 billion in grants). scheme, and (ii) Draw lessons from the pilot to
The national rollout was preceded by a pilot develop the Uganda National Social Protection
in 2010. In June 2010 the Ministry of Gender, Policy, as a beginning point to build a social
Labour & Social Development (MGLSD) presented protection system for the country.
a proposal to Cabinet and received approval to Between 2010 and 2015, MGLSD piloted the
implement a pilot SCG under the Social Assistance Senior Citizens Grant in 15 districts. These were:
Grant for empowerment (SAGE) scheme in Amudat, Apac, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kiboga,
Uganda as part of the wider Expanding Social Kole, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Moroto,
Protection (ESP) programme. Under this scheme, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Nebbi, Yumbe and Zombo.
Government provides Shs.25,000 grant to older Approximately 123,000 older persons aged 65 and
persons. In September 2010, the MGLSD, with 80 years and above in the case of Karamoja, were
support from the UK’s Department for International covered. The grant registered positive impacts
Development (DFID/UKAID), Irish Aid and (initially) not only on the welfare of the older persons and
their immediate family members but also on the

Social Protection neWSletter 21