A Mother's Hope: 'M'e Malieketso's Journey with the Child Grant Programme

In the heart of the serene village of Ha Pesolane, amid the rolling hills of Berea District in Lesotho, 'M'e Malieketso Rakhori tends to her family's modest farm. They cultivate the land with her husband, nurturing it to sustain their household of nine, which includes her six children and one granddaughter. Among Mme. Malieketso's six daughters, only one born in 2009 is still in school. The family qualifies for the CGP because of this school-age girl.

'M'e Malieketso was enrolled in the Child Grant Programme (CGP) in 2010. She said interviews were conducted in her village, and her household was deemed eligible to benefit from the CGP. The CGP is the government of Lesotho's unconditional cash transfer to poor and vulnerable households whose primary objective is to improve the living standards of orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) through better nutrition and health status and increase school enrolment. It was first implemented by The Ministry of Social Development and later expanded nationwide with support from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

As the sun rises over the horizon, 'M'e Malieketso prepares for her journey to the Mapoteng Community Council Offices, where the quarterly grant awaits. With each step, she carries the hopes and dreams of her family, navigating the rugged terrain and bustling the dusty road with determination. The CGP grant, 600 Maloti every quarter, is a lifeline for 'M'e Malieketso and her loved ones. Yet, the journey to collect it is not without its challenges. The cost of transportation weighs heavy on her shoulders, but she perseveres, fueled by a mother's love and an unyielding spirit. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the payment queue,'M'e Malieketso's heart swells with anticipation. Alongside receiving her cash grant, she embraces a new chapter—the transition to digital payments.?

After receiving her cash grant on this particular day, 'M'e Malieketso registered in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development management information system to enable her to receive her grant through her mobile phone in the future. She is one of the many Basotho registered with a mobile network provider for mobile payments and says she sometimes uses mobile payment services.

On this particular day, seven Payment Service Provider (PSP) employees were available at the Mapoteng PayPoint to register any social assistance beneficiaries who chose their network for transitioning to mobile payments.

One of the PSP staff members, who expressed appreciation for the government's shift towards digital or mobile payments, remarked that it was long overdue. She noted that introducing mobile payments would be beneficial for both the community and individual beneficiaries, as it would save them from enduring long walks or transportation costs to collect their cash. She observed that previously, beneficiaries had to endure extended waits in queues, exposed to severe weather conditions such as scorching summer heat and freezing winter cold, just to receive their money.

"When payments through mobile money begin," 'M'e Malieketso shares, her eyes sparkling with hope, "it will ease the burden of travel and waiting, allowing me more time with my family."