Save the Children Fiji launched the Fiji National Philanthropic Trust Cash Assistance Program (FiNCaP) to assist families enduring the economic impacts of COVID-19.
The child rights organisation partnered with the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and Vodafone Fiji to reach more than 19,000 households with digital cash transfers.
Save the Children Fiji CEO Shairana Ali said working with the FCOSS and Vodafone Fiji would allow for fast and efficient support to vulnerable families affected by the pandemic.
“Save the Children’s partnership with digital mobile money company like Vodafone means that we can quickly reach the most vulnerable families across Fiji impacted by COVID-19. Save the Children’s expertise in cash transfer and Vodafone’s huge reach across Fiji means families will soon feel the relief they desperately need during these trying times,” she said.
She said the support would be crucial at a current time where many families were preparing to send children back to school. “One of the benefi ts of this type of assistance is that while we have identified people in the greatest need, they will then be supporting their own communities as they purchase goods from local markets.”
Vodafone Fiji head of eCommerce and Corporate Affairs, Shailendra Prasad, said supporting similar programs such as the Help for Homes initiative after TC Winston, MPAiSA had proven to be a robust, efficient, transparent and highly accountable means of providing cash assistance.
Save the Children Fiji had worked closely with local NGOs and coordinated with the Fiji Cash Working Group to develop an assessment criterion that targeted vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, children and people living with disabilities.
