Cash Transfer Program and Socio-economic Empowerment of Communities in Dadaab Refugee Complex, Kenya.

Abstract

Decent work and economic growth is outlined as one of the seventeen sustainable development goals framed on ensuring that all the individuals in the world as a whole are socio-economically empowered irrespective of their status or their countries as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Cash transfer programs have demonstrated to be very strong instruments of poverty reduction, with positive impacts on poverty, dietary diversity, enrollment and attendance in school, investment in productive assets, child labor and empowerment indicators. The study purposed to establish the effect of cash transfer program on socio - economic empowerment of communities in Dadaab refugee complex, Kenya. The study objectives were: to examine the influence of funding of cash transfer program on socio-economic empowerment, to examine the influence of governance of cash transfer program on socio-economic empowerment, to examine the influence of needs assessment on recipients of cash transfer program on socio-economic empowerment and to examine the influence of monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer program on socio-economic empowerment of communities in Dadaab refugee complex, Kenya. The study adopted universalism theory and theory of change and cash transfer programs to underpin this study. The research design used was descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 27,286 comprising of cash transfer officers, key informants and refugee households. A sample size of 427 of the respondents was carefully selected using probability sampling. The research relied on interview guides and research questionnaires. Research instruments were subjected to reliability and validity tests to ensure they achieve the recommended status before they are used in the actual study. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, standard deviations and means and also inferential analysis such as Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used in analysis of collected data. The study further relied on frequency distribution tables and prose-form in order to present the information. From the study, there was positive relationship between funding of cash transfer program and socio-economic empowerment (r = 0.680). The study also found out that there was positive relationship between governance of cash transfer program and socio-economic empowerment (r = 0.697). Furthermore, the study found out a positive correlation between needs assessment on recipients of cash transfer and socio - economic empowerment (r = 0.820). Lastly, study ascertained that there existed a positive relationship between monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer program and socio - economic empowerment (r = 0.819). The study concluded that funding of cash transfer programs, governance of cash transfer programs, needs assessment on recipients and monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer programs had positive and significant effect on socio-economic empowerment of communities in Dadaab refugee complex. Thus, more stakeholders should be brought on board to ensure funding is well achieved and that the organizations have adequate funds to reach all the refugees that may be needy. The stakeholders should employ various technique in programs to educate beneficiaries on financial literacy as well as providing coaching and mentorship to apply in the various economic activities that promote economic empowerment. There is also need to ensure that more professionals are engaged by the support groups to ensure that there is proper governance and that the cash transfers only reach the intended and needy beneficiaries. Finally, the study recommends that through monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer programs, the support groups should ensure that any shortcomings that may result from the programs are quickly traced and proper correction measures undertaken for the benefit of the beneficiaries.