EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CASH TRANSFER FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN PROMOTING EDUCATION IN HOUSEHOLDS IN GITHUNGURI SUB COUNTY

Abstract

The number of OVC is continually rising with most of them having vulnerability resulting from HIV. In Kenya numerous interventions have been put in place to address the plight of the OVC in form of social protection including free Primary Education and previously school feeding programs. The government has also implemented a cash transfer program for orphans and vulnerable children in assumption that money to households safeguards the welfare of the children. The objective of this study thus, was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) in promoting education in households in Githunguri sub county. The study was descriptive in nature since this research design is suitable in describing the situation as it is. Snow ball and purposive sampling was used to get the beneficiary households that participated in the study and the KII respectively. The target population was 764 households but a sample of 229 households was used in the study. Primary data was collected through semi structured questionnaires administered in the field for four locations where the Cash transfer is been implemented. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the caregivers in the beneficiary households and for KII; an interview guide based on the specific objectives was used. The research was also informed by data from educational journals, books, previous research and government documents on the program. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and interpreted into frequencies and percentages by use of SPSS version 20. Thematic analysis for Qualitative data was the preferred method for this study. The study found that CT-OVC program was mostly used in meeting the educational needs of the households as one of the requirements of the program.The program faces numerous challenges which emanate from the households, community as well as those related to access of CT-OVC by the caregivers. CT-OVC improved education through encouraging enrollment and retention of school going children. The study recommends for a re-evaluation of the policy or program in relation to contextual needs of the households. Effective use of CT-OVC programs funds goes hand in hand with the enhanced levels of awareness and literacy skills of the recipients. Good sources of information should be put in place to enable for example the caregivers to be aware of the happenings in the program. Communication approaches are wanting and there is need to improve awareness creation modes and verify CT-OVC information.