LEAP payments begin nationwide as government targets 450,000 households

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has initiated payments to eligible households under its LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) programme, commencing on September 14. The latest payment cycle follows a significant reassessment of beneficiary households to enhance targeting, transparency, and effectiveness of the programme.

LEAP offers financial assistance to extremely poor and vulnerable families to help meet their basic needs, improve food security, and strengthen access to health and education, aiming to build resilience and wellbeing. The MoGCSP cautioned that not all beneficiaries will receive their payments at once, as the payments are being rolled out in phases.

The Ministry advised beneficiaries to exercise patience and await official notifications and instructions from various authorities, such as the LEAP Management Secretariat, District Social Welfare Offices, and community-level officers. The reassessment process identified households that had not previously benefited from LEAP and those that had improved their circumstances, with the ultimate goal of directing limited social-protection resources to those who need them most.

Beneficiaries are not required to pay any fees for enrolment or payment, and they can report any issues or concerns through designated grievance channels. The Ministry requested Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) to support the rollout of the payment process, providing accurate information to communities and directing concerns through established grievance mechanisms.