The Orientation Workshop on the Revised Cash for Work Programme officially opened yesterday, with Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Mr. Nicholas Phiri, highlighting the Government’s commitment to strengthening social protection and community development interventions.
During the opening, Mr. Phiri described the workshop as a critical platform for creating a shared understanding of the revised programme’s design, objectives, and implementation processes among all stakeholders. He noted that the engagement aims to align roles, responsibilities, and expectations as the programme moves into full-scale implementation.
The Revised Cash for Work Programme is designed to provide temporary employment opportunities for vulnerable households while improving community infrastructure through labour-intensive projects. The initiative prioritises social inclusion, targeting women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and supports resilience through climate adaptation and environmental restoration activities.
Mr. Phiri explained that the revisions address challenges identified during the first phase, with a focus on improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Key enhancements include clearer targeting and beneficiary selection criteria, strengthened monitoring and reporting systems, robust grievance redress mechanisms, and improved payment systems to ensure timely and secure disbursements to beneficiaries.
He emphasised that the programme’s success depends on strong coordination among stakeholders, effective engagement at all levels, and strict adherence to operational guidelines. Participants, drawn from local authorities and implementing partners, were encouraged to actively participate, seek clarification, and share practical experiences to strengthen on-the-ground implementation.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through responsive, well-managed programmes. He acknowledged the contributions of technical teams and cooperating partners in revising the programme and stressed that continued collaboration is essential for achieving tangible community benefits.
Mr. Phiri expressed confidence that the outcomes of the orientation workshop would enhance implementation of the Revised Cash for Work Programme, ultimately delivering measurable improvements in livelihoods and community infrastructure across the country.
With these remarks, the Orientation Workshop on the Revised Cash for Work Programme was officially declared open.