Anticipatory Action cash programme to assist Social Welfare beneficiaries in preparation for cyclone

15,000 existing Social Welfare beneficiaries that would be forecasted to be on the path of a cyclone will receive a top-up of $200.

This was made possible after the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry for Finance, and the World Food Programme signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the technical support to the government's social protection scheme for the delivery of Anticipatory Cash Transfers for households affected by tropical cyclones.

During the MOU signing, Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection, Eseta Nadakuitavuki said the Anticipatory Action cash programme aims to build resilience by providing the much-needed cash to Social Welfare beneficiaries before a cyclone hits to minimize the negative impacts on lives and livelihoods by protecting them and their assets.

She says they fully support the piloting of this program and are working in partnership with the World Food Programme on the anticipatory cash transfers to selected social assistance beneficiaries located in the identified cyclone-affected areas.

WFP Country Director Alpha Bah says they are proud to be one of the many organizations helping to bring to life the inspiring vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

He says climate change is expected to further increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, and this will require new approaches to manage the likely consequences.

Bah says through the Anticipatory Action project, they will work with the government to support at-risk communities to mitigate the impact of tropical cyclones through the provision of fast and efficient cash-based transfers to targeted Department of Social Welfare beneficiaries using the government’s existing social payment systems.

He adds the project will provide much-needed cash to vulnerable households before a cyclone hits.