Social Protection for Women’s Economic Empowerment - Lessons From Kazi Mtaani & Inua Jamii

Abstract

This report is the result of research conducted by the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Hub, African Women’s Studies Center, and University of Nairobi. The research aimed at using the example of Kazi Mtaani and Inua Jamii programs to evaluate the lessons that can be learnt from the Kenya Government’s Economic Stimulus Packages on social protection safety nets for future disaster preparedness for WEE.

Kazi Mtaani is a national initiative launched in April 2020 to cushion the most vulnerable and able-bodied youth in informal settlements from the effects of the pandemic. The program which started with a budget of Ksh. 10 billion has employed 283,210 youths in informal settlements across the 47 counties in Kenya. Kazi Mtaani and other social protection programs have increased the revenue performance by 26.8%. The program targets unemployed youth of ages 18 to 35.

Inua Jamii is a Government of Kenya Cash Transfer Programme that aims at improving the lives of the most vulnerable citizens by providing them with a bi-monthly stipend to cushion them from poverty and vulnerabilities.

The research involved desk research and a review of best practices for social protection program design. The research also entailed collection of both qualitative and quantitative data from four counties where Kazi Mtaani and Inua Jamii have been implemented, namely: Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, and Kitui. For quantitative data, 994 participants were interviewed from the four counties and a survey questionnaire was administered to them. Key Informants Interviews and Focus Groups Discussions were also conducted to collect qualitative data. The literature review was also conducted to inform best practices for social protection program design. The outcomes of the research were presented during debrief workshops in the counties and the key findings are distilled in this report.

Both qualitative and quantitative data revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on women’s employment and that their workload also increased due to the pandemic. The results also showed that the Government of Kenya’s intervention through Kazi Mtaani and Inua Jamii programs had a positive impact on the livelihoods of the targeted group with most of the respondents from both quantitative and qualitative data reporting that the impact was observable. In the case of Kazi Mtaani, for instance, beneficiaries reported that the program empowered them to cater for their immediate needs by saving the proceeds from the program to start small businesses. The beneficiaries reported that the businesses had continued to flourish and sustain them long after the program ended.

In addition, the participants noted that despite the challenges that women faced, they were able to come up with strategies to navigate them during the pandemic. Participants also recommended that there is a need for the government to come up with strategies to cushion the public against adverse effects in case of such future pandemics. They also recommended that any information regarding stimulus packages should be availed to the targeted groups to ensure that such packages benefit the intended groups. The research recommends that the Kazi Mtaani programme should be made more sustainable and that the government should design structures to govern the programme to make the management of the programme efficient, effective, and sustainable.

Regarding the Inua Jamii programme, the participants recommended that it should be expanded to include the senior citizens who had attained the age of 70 years. They also recommended that, since most of the elderly are sick and receiving medical treatment, the government should cater for them through universal health care or by paying for the National Hospital Insurance Fund for them (NHIF) and ensuring that every public hospital is well equipped to ensure that they get full medication at the time of need. Notably, most respondents noted that other than buying food with the cash transfer they receive, most of them use it to cater for their medical bills. Key policy recommendations emerging from this study were distilled in the form of two policy briefs which are annexed to this report.