LIFE Nepal successfully implemented COVID-19 Cash Plus Programme

In response to people impacted by 2nd wave of COVID 19 pandemic and flood after the monsoon season and as preparedness for 3rd wave of COVID pandemic, LIFE Nepal in the partnership with UNICEF Nepal implemented Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), Nutrition, Water & Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Child Protection Programme in Madhesh Province, Nepal. The overall goal was to promote and sustain public health safety measures by preventing the loss of life to COVID-19 through supporting responses in risk communication and psychosocial support, addressing urgent humanitarian needs of children, adolescents, PwD (People with Disability), and families arising from the secondary impacts of renewed lockdown measures leading to malnutrition, protection issues, and disruption of learning. However, LIFE Nepal learned that direct payments of cash or cash transfers can help the poorest families meet their basic needs and generate a wide range of benefits, such as increased household productive capacity, improved children’s school attendance, and better adolescent mental health. In addition, integrating cash transfers with other components can generate additional benefits for individuals as well as their households. Hence, LIFE Nepal with the technical and financial assistance from UNICEF Nepal implemented “COVID-19 cash plus (combination of cash transfers and complementary programs) intervention–promoting positive nutrition behaviors including public health safety messages with the families receiving cash support and the community” in Rajbiraj Municipality & Rajgardh Rural Municipality of Saptari district, Aurahi Rural Municipality and Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City of Dhanusha district, Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipalities of Rautahat district in Madhesh Pradeshfrom 20th October to 31st December 2021.