12th Cash Working Group Meeting Minutes (DRAFT)
16January2018| 10:00 – 12:00 | WFP Conference Room

Participants: See attendance list

Co-Chairs: TheWorld Bankand WFP

  1. Opening

The Co-Chairs welcomed participants and provided an overview of the CWG for new participants.
  1. Review and Update

  • Save the Children (SC) stated a challenge it has been facing in obtaining an approval to implement its cash-based interventions in North Darfur and South Kordofan from HAC. SC has attempted to implement a programme targeting IDPs, host communitiesas well as South Sudanese refugees in the two statesfunding from ECHO. The program has 3 components; cash transfer, health andnutrition. SC had obtained initial approval from HAC in the two states. In North Darfur, implementationhas been started, with a beneficiary list has been developed. In South Kordofan, the program has not been implemented due to reservations from HACfederal about the cash transfers without clear reasons. The health and nutrition components have been approved. SC planned to start the actual cash distribution in January 2018, but it has been not able to start it. Mercy Corps suggested that SC enquire with ICRC about their recent cash transfer programme in South Kordofan. UNHCR noted that the reservations from HAC regarding cash transfer programme for SC are concerning andrecommended that SC contact OCHA for follow up. The World Bank (WB) suggested that SC also contact the Ministry of Security and Social Development (MoSSD) Sara Dakkam, for further assistance.
  • Oxfam started cash transfer programmes in Sudan in 2013 and recently started acash transfer programme, with closely working with ZOA, targeting around 2,700 South Sudanese refugee households in Al Nimir and Kario camps in East Darfur. It conducted the Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA)in East Darfur.
  • ECHO noted that it has received 15 proposals for cash-based interventions for 2018, which shows increased interest in CBTs in Sudan and genuine engagements by partners.He also stated that the CWG is an excellent forum for discussing the issues related to cash-based interventions and addressing the challenges.
  • Mercy Corpsnoted that there is the Collaborative Cash Delivery (CCD) Platform, which many INGOs are members includingSC and Oxfam, DRC, Mercy Corps andCaLP. Mercy Corps is considering having the CCD program support efforts in Sudan andencouraged CWG members who are also part of the program to contact their global cash advisors to consider further support.

  1. Update on 4Ws

  • OCHA noted there are delays in the preparation of the map, and currently 12 organisations have provided the 4Ws information.
  • OCHA encouraged organisations to submit their 4Ws information to OCHA at their convenience. OCHA noted that previous emails of the 4Ws also included the template for assessments, it would be appreciated if organisations could also populate the document.

  1. Zakat Chamber Presentation

  • Zakat Chamber presented an overview of its activities and involvement in cash transfer program(CTP):
-Zakat Chamber highlighted that Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam; it is taken from Muslim adults who have wealth over a certain amount – known as Niasb. The most common level of wealth from gold, cash equities etc. is 2.5% of the total value.
-In Sudan, the Zakat Fund was established in 1980 as a voluntary Zakat fund. In 1984 the Chamber of Zakat and Taxation was established, and compulsory collection of Zakat was enacted. This was followed by the establishment of Zakat Chamber, designed to consolidate the Zakat funds and to build the social function of Zakat. Further to this, the Zakat Act 1990 was enacted (amended in 2001).
-Zakat Chamber highlighted its operational model, noting that it functions through a board of trustees which is chaired by the Minister of Security and Social Development. In addition, every state has a board of trustees chaired by the State Governor.
-Zakat Chamber highlighted that it conducted a comprehensive poverty census in 2011 which found that 2,291,789 households were categorized as poor and need assistance in Sudan.
-Zakat Chamber is currently running a cash transfer program that targets 750,000 households, and a micro-finance program. Zakat Chamber also assists the provision of means of production (e.g. transportation vehicles, tractors, sheep, cows, goats etc.) and capacity building for vulnerable community members who are unable to work through the provision of education (e.g. establishing and rehabilitating schools, the provision of books, uniforms and school feeding programs).
-Zakat Chamber,with the MoSSD,is re-targeting the beneficiaries and re-profiling the poor population in Sudan using a Proxy Means Test (PMT)with the WB’s assistance. It is also working on designing a poverty map of Sudan and conducting a social survey and creating a database.
(Please see the presentation)
Q and A
  • In response to a question by Mercy Corps on how payment amounts are determined for households, Zakat Chamber articulated that the process of cash transfer is initiated by the MoSSD, with a pre-determined amount per family. Zakat Chamber is provided with the list of eligible families and acts as the vehicle for the cash transfer. The WB noted that a distinction should be made between the individual activities of the Zakat Chamber and its partnership with the MoSSD.

  1. Ministry of Security and Social Development (MoSSD) Presentation

  • The MoSSD presented an overview of its Direct Cash TransfersProject:
-The MoSSD commenced its cash transfers project in 2011to alleviate the burden on low-income households and reduce their sense of poverty and securing the minimum necessary for the standard of living. Presently, the fifth phase is underway.
-Phase 1 began in 2011; it encompassed a comprehensive survey of poor families (2009) which was completed by the Institute of Zakat Sciences in Cooperation with the Central Statistical Organization. The complementary cash transfer project targeted 100,000 families from the poorest 30% of families with 100 SDG in cash support, per family, per month.
-Phase 2 began in 2013; it encompassed the National Strategy for Social InitiativeProgram launched by the Government of Sudan which encompasses direct cash transfers, education, health, shelter, increased job opportunities, care for the disabled, social responsibility and social awareness.
-Phase 3 began in 2015; the phase included the inclusion of 150,000 families to the direct transfer project. Phase 3 included families of martyrs, patients with chronic diseases such as kidney disease and tuberculosis patients who were provided with 150 SDG per family, per month to compliment household income.
-Phase 4 began in 2016; it focused on working partnerships with the WB through the Social Safety Network project to provide technical support on Cash Transfer program and Productive Social Net.
-Phase 5 began in 2018; the phase included the inclusion of a further 250,000 families bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 750,000 families, with the direct cash transfers amounting to 250 SDG, per family, per month. The MoSSD plans to spend 2.25 billion SDG, for the cash transfers in 2018.
-The MoSSD targets all 18 states in Sudan, with a focus on Khartoum, El Gezira, South Darfur and North Kordofan States. Cash transfers are implemented bytwo MoSSD’s units;Savings and Social Development Bank and Zakat Chamber, and one government’s entity; SUDAPOST.
-The MoSSD highlighted the following key challenges to the direct cash transfer program; implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, capacity building for staff, developing productive safety nets, geographical challenges and a lack of coordination among governmental and non-governmental bodies.
-The MoSSDplans to improve the direct cash transfer targeting systems and develop a cash transfer national strategy (conditional and unconditional), provide financial, technical, institutional and capacity building support to states and localities.
(Please see the presentation.)
Q and A
  • Respondingto UNHCR’s question regarding the IDPs targeted as part of the MoSSD’s partnership with Zakat, Zakat Chamber noted that itsupports 300,000 IDP households per year from Zakat. UNHCR highlighted that cash transfer activities consider the needs of IDPs and urged the MoSSD to consider particularly areas including North Kordofan, where there is a caseload of IDPs who are not supported. The MoSSDnoted that the Ministry is implementing a new policy to provide social services to IDPs and returnees and discussion with HAC is ongoing. She also noted that HAC newly formed a Committee for Social Protection Intervention for IDPs and Returnees and it can be discussed there.
  • The WB stated that the proxy means test is an objective tool to assist the MoSSD to identify households for the cash transfer program. As such, the proxy means test is a good entry point for IDPs to be screenedand Zakat Chamber is planning to adopt this tool to recertify its current beneficiaries.
  • UNHCR asked if a list of the 300,000 IDPs including their locations etc. that could be obtained to assist in their work with protracted IDPs. Zakat Chamber responded that for the returnees, the information is available, but for IDPs, it is necessary to consult with state committees. The MoSSDnoted that beneficiaries could be reached through the local community committee. The WB suggested that CWG members communicateand work with Zakat Chamber toobtain information from the state committees.
  • SC asked the MoSSD to clarify the mechanisms for exiting the program after the specified period. Zakat Chamberanswered that cash transfer recipients are classified into two categories: those who can work, and those who are unable to work. For those who are unable to work, cash is provided primarily. Those who can work are provided with different types of social support including health insurance and cash for education for 1 year. After the one-year period, the family is re-assessed by the state committee.
  • Responding to DFID’s questions, the MoSSD stated that there has been no beneficiary assessment conducted till now and re-targeting of beneficiaries is planned to be conducted. She also noted that delay in implementing cash transfer occurs when the distribution of cash to beneficiaries has been conducted. The WB noted that itwould conduct a mid-term assessment of the cash transfers project in February/March 2018.
  • Responding to participants’questionson the cash transfer amount per beneficiary considering the economic situation in Sudan, the MoSSDnoted that 250 SDG per household per month would not be sufficient, but the Ministry provides a package of assistance including health insurance, education, job opportunities. She stated that the cash transfer amounts are determined by Ministry of Finance considering the economic situation and the poverty rate and the revision of the amount is done by a committee including Ministry of Finance and theMoSSDperiodically depending on the economic situation. she alsonoted that the preparation of a national cash transfer strategy is underway.
  • On the replacement of beneficiaries, Zakat Chamber noted that the process is done by the state committees.
  • ECHO requested the MoSSD to share information about the achievements of its cash transfers project and the MoSSD agreed.
  • ECHO asked the coverage of the national ID, in relation to its use as an identification mechanism. Zakat Chamber noted that the coverage is 85%. In the case of a beneficiary does not have the National ID, the payment is made if the local authority approves.
  • Mercy Corps highlighted the importance of increased collaboration among all stakeholders.
  • Responding to WFP’s question on the plan of the use of PMT, the MoSSD noted that the tool is used for re-assessment and re-targeting of the beneficiaries. A pilot has been conducted in South Kordofan state to test PMTandthe MoSSDplans to conduct a household survey in River Nile, Red Sea, white and Blue Nile, and North Kordofan states using PMT in 2018.
  • On the Productive social safety net programme, the MoSSD agreed to give a presentation at a future CWG meeting.

  1. Way forward

  • Mercy Corps noted that it would send information to CWG members on the CCDPlatform.
  • The WB to share information on adaptive safety nets.
  • ECHO will send an invitation to a meeting on its new cash-based intervention guidance note to take place on 5 February.
  • UNHCR to present the manual on protection in cash-based interventionsdeveloped by the Global Protection Cluster at the next meeting.

Next meeting: The next CWG meeting is scheduled for 13February 2018 (TBC).

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