Digital payment solution allows refugees in Zambia to receive cash directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets of choice
“The plugPAY system provides choice and fosters financial inclusion, enabling vulnerable people to choose where they receive and withdraw their cash,” said WFP Country Representative, Cissy Byenkya. “It offers improved efficiency and better security as WFP can send cash directly to people while streamlining the internal processes to shorten WFP’s response time.”
Over 1,000 refugees were successfully reached through three batches of payments. These initial results have proven the efficiency of the platform and WFP plans on scaling up plugPAY to cover the entire refugee population receiving cash assistance. Currently, around 17,000 refugees receive cash assistance, allowing them to choose the food of their choice at local markets. Child-headed households and refugees without SIM cards will remain on monthly food assistance.
“Financial inclusion is a key priority for the Zambian Government who recognises financial services as a pathway for wealth creation, economic growth and sustainable development,” said Citibank Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Lowani Chibesakunda. “plugPay is well aligned to national priorities, and this innovative partnership will help to realize government efforts to improve financial inclusion.”
Building on lessons learned from this public-private partnership, WFP will explore ways to enhance innovative payment solutions embedded in social protection programmes in Zambia and foster financial inclusion at national level while boosting the local market.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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