The systemic review of the social protection policy on social cash transfer program towards the beneficiaries in Zambia at national level

The aim of the study was to explore the effects and benefits of Social Cash Transfer (SCT) on the livelihood of the beneficiaries in Zambia. In this study a qualitative research approach was used. The approach focused on analysing past published literature in Zambia and data collected from an expert working in government. Both the literature and expert agreed that SCT improved food security, education and health of the beneficiaries. However, some empirical literature lacked consensus on the significance of the effects of SCT on the beneficiaries. Furthermore, the study revealed that the sustainability of SCT in Zambia can be questioned and there is need to develop more sustainable programs that are focused on building skills and allowing citizens to have means to provide for themselves. There is need to separate government SCTs and those provided by Non-Governmental Organisations. The implications of the results are that SCT are not as effective as government reports put it. The reality is that they are not sustainable given the needs and current economic situation. Therefore, the results of the study provide evidence that it is better to teach a man to catch a fish than to give them one. In the case of SCTs, government needs to come up with more sustainable means such as skills development for the needs.