Evaluating the Sustainability of Social Cash Transfer Programme in Reducing Poverty among Vulnarable Households: A Case Study of Chikankata District

Poverty remains a persistent socio-economic challenge in rural Zambia, prompting the implementation of social protection intervention such as Social Cash Transfer (SCT). This study evaluates the effectiveness of the SCT initiative in reducing household poverty and improving living conditions among vulnerable populations in Chinkankata District. Using a mixed method research design. Primary data was collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, while secondary data was sourced from policy documents, reports. The study analyzed data using SPSS, with a sample of 50 respondents, including government social workers, and community members.

The findings reveal that the SCT significantly enhances immediate household welfare, particularly by increasing food security, boosting school attendance rates among children, and enabling basic healthcare access. Beneficiaries also reported small-scale reinvestment in agriculture inputs and livestock, fostering minor income diversification. However, SCT’s long –term capacity to lift households out of structural poverty remains constrained by systemic challenges, including inflation-driven erosion of transfer values, disbursement delays and limited integration with complementary economic empowerment initiatives. While the SCT serves as vital safety net for extreme poverty alleviation in Chikankata District, its transformation impact requires periodic stipend adjustments, timely disbursements, and stronger linkages to sustainable livelihood.