By Wezzie Gausi:
Widespread confusion over who qualifies for Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) is threatening to erode trust in one of the country’s most critical poverty reduction tools, a new evaluation has revealed.
A Midline Impact Evaluation Report shows that while the programme continues to reduce poverty levels, many community members misunderstand the eligibility rules, leading to mistrust and perceptions of bias in the selection process.
According to the findings, households often assume that the programme supports anyone facing hardship while others believe that political connections or favouritism influence who gets selected.
The report warns that these misconceptions weaken programme accountability and transparency, especially in districts where public communication is lacking.
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Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Minister Jean Sendeza acknowledged the issue during the report launch on Thursday, saying the government would prioritise clearer messaging to ensure that community members understand how beneficiaries are selected.
“We must ensure that people know that this programme is guided by clear criteria and that no one is chosen unfairly,” she said. “The SCTP is a tool for dignity and development, not a favour or handout.”
SCTP, also known as Mtukula Pakhomo, provides regular cash transfers to ultra-poor and labour-constrained households. Its aim is to improve food security, support education and help families withstand economic shocks.
The programme currently reaches over 382,000 households, supporting more than 1.7 million people, including 600,000 children.
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Despite the eligibility confusion, the programme’s impact on poverty reduction is clear. Figure 14 of the report shows that continuing SCTP households experienced a 9-percentage point drop in the ultra-poverty rate compared to those that were removed.
The poverty gap—a measure of how far people fall below the poverty line—also narrowed significantly for beneficiaries still on the programme.
Germany Ambassador to Malawi Ute König said the results show that social protection is not just about temporary relief, but about economic stability.
However, she cautioned that misunderstandings about eligibility must be addressed urgently.
“If people do not understand who qualifies or why, they lose faith in the system. That’s dangerous,” König said. “This programme is a public good. It must be understood, trusted and supported—especially as we face growing poverty.”
König said that with the international poverty line now set at $3 per day (about K5,000), nearly three in four Malawians can be considered poor.
She reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to SCTP, noting that over €122 million has been invested in the programme since 2011, benefitting over 400,000 individuals in seven districts.
As part of its recommendations, the report urges the government and partners to intensify public awareness campaigns, train community leaders on targeting criteria and strengthen complaint-handling systems to address disputes.
