CASH TRANSFER EFFECT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A CASE OF ISLAMIC RELIEF KENYA PROGRAM IN GARISSA COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the study: Poverty incidence in Garissa County is high at 46.6% in 2017/18, down from 52.2% in 2016. (National Bureau of Statistics, 2019). Poverty rates are significantly greater in rural areas (49.7%) than in urban areas (34.4%), even though people of informal urban settlements frequently face severe hardship. Children (53.5%), especially orphans and vulnerable children (54.1%), older persons (53.2%), and those with disabilities (57.4%) are also more likely to be poor. Despite the fact that cash transfer programs provide cash to households, which they can use to purchase for food, clothing, and services such as education and health, there is no empirical literature on the social economic effects of Islamic relief cash transfers on women's empowerment. The study sought to investigate the socio-economic effects of cash transfers by Islamic Relief Kenya on women empowerment in Garissa County, Kenya. The specific objectives were; to investigate the effect of food security from the cash transfer program, shelter provision from the cash transfer program and livelihood diversification of the recipients of the cash transfer program on women empowerment in Garissa County, Kenya. This study was guided by the empowerment theory.
Research methodology: A cross-sectional research design was used. The study targeted 1127 households in Garissa County which were sampled into 295 households using Slovin Formula.
Findings: The result of the cash transfer program on food security indicated that cash transfer program beneficiaries were able to afford meals with a variety of food nutrients and quantities. The Islamic cash transfer programs were effectively utilized by women to improve the quality of housing and clothing. The livelihood of the beneficiaries changed as a result of acquiring livestock, and land, participating in social activities, owning marketable securities and ability to meet daily domestic expenses through the use of Islamic cash transfer programs.
Conclusion: The study concluded that household food security, shelter provision and livelihood diversification had a positive and significant effect on women's economic empowerment.
Recommendations: The study makes a policy recommendation to increase the coverage of cash transfers among the rural population, who were identified as vulnerable but had a lower coverage rate compared to urban households.
Keywords: Cash transfer, women empowerment, Islamic relief, Program, Garissa County.
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