Mixed-methods data collection for conducting an impact assessment of the Maternal and Child Cash Transfers Plus for the 1,000 days of life (MCCT+) in Sudan: Phase IV Programme (Албания - Тендер #58448890)

Background

In 2021, UNICEF and partners launched a new mother and cash transfer plus (MCCT+) for the first 1,000 days of life programme in Sudan, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) via the German development bank (KfW). The MCCT+ is an integrated social protection programme that supports pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children throughout the first 1,000 days of life. It is a cash plus programme that combines cash transfers with social behaviour change communication (SBCC) and complementary services including health, nutrition, WASH, and child protection. The programme seeks to improve maternal and child health outcomes and prevent malnutrition.

The programme is currently being implemented in the States of Kassala and Red Sea and about 54,000 pregnant women from nine targeted localities have been registered. Cash transfers have been disbursed since April 2021. The MCCT+ has continued to operate even during the conflict and has undergone three phases of implementation. In the forthcoming Phase IV, the programme will provide cash transfers of US$30 per month. Primary health care facilities (PHC) serve as the delivery platform for the plus components, especially the linkages to basic services and SBCC.

Phase IV will build on the lessons learnt from the first three phases. Evidence generation has included a baseline assessment, outcome assessment, programme monitoring and post-distribution monitoring. A programme evaluation is also planned.