In the communal sections of Cerca-la-Source, access to a stable income remains limited. Households live mainly from small-scale agricultural or commercial activities, often interrupted by lack of capital, age or physical constraints. In this context, the arrival of a direct cash transfer has an immediate effect on daily life.
Projects HA-J0005 and HA-J0007, Programme de Renforcement des Filets de Sécurité pour les Populations Vulnérables, are being implemented with support from the IDB and FAES, in partnership with Zanmi Lasante. Component HA-J0007 provides secure cash transfers for households identified as the most vulnerable.
Of an initial cohort of 6,000 beneficiaries across the Zanmi Lasante network, 300 people have been selected for the Cerca-la-Source site. Transfers have begun and are distributed via local cooperatives, according to a structured system that enables beneficiaries to receive their money directly.
At the Cerca-la-Source Health Center, Mrs Francimène Chérubin, 57, is one of the beneficiaries. She lives in Champ de Tyr, a remote locality in the commune. Since the death of her husband over ten years ago, she has been providing for her family alone.
She used to farm the land to feed her children and grandchildren. With time, her physical condition no longer allowed her to work as she used to. She had started a small business, which was stopped for lack of capital.
“Since my husband died, life has become very difficult. I can’t work as I used to, and my business has stopped for lack of means,” she explains.
She heard about the program through the Noyau Éducatif Communautaire, with the support of Mr. Velot Gabriel. She signed up and followed the steps of the process. The day her selection was confirmed remains vivid in her memory. A few days later, she travelled several kilometers to the Cerca-la-Source cooperative to collect her transfer.
“Today, I came to collect my money. It means a lot to me.” This amount will enable her to restart an income-generating activity. “With this money, I’m going to start a small business again.”
On site, distributions continue every day. Over forty beneficiaries turn up daily at the cooperative to collect their transfer. The mechanism relies on coordinated work between community health workers, social workers, clinical staff and local structures.
Mr. Velot Gabriel, a member of the NEC, is involved in identifying and monitoring beneficiaries. He has been working with Zanmi Lasante since 2005.
“We know the families. We know who has lost their livelihoods. The transfer comes directly into their hands.”
The cash transfer makes it possible to buy basic products, relaunch a small business, meet urgent expenses. For households with no savings or stable income, this cash injection is often the only short-term leverage available.
Mrs Chérubin plans to use her transfer to resume a simple activity suited to her abilities. She wants to stabilize her income and reduce her dependency. Her journey mirrors that of other beneficiaries involved in the program. The first distributions show a direct use of the funds in the local economy. Beneficiaries are buying, selling and reinvesting on a small scale.
In Cerca-la-Source, project HA-J0007 introduces a simple mechanism. The money is handed over to the households. Decisions on how to use it are up to them.
These transfers provide a direct response to urgent needs. The money received is used immediately to buy, sell and relaunch income-generating activities.
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