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Social Cash Transfer Programme (Mtukula Pakhomo) in Malawi: Who Qualifies and Wh

updated on : Saturday, 7 Nov, 2026 · 2 min read · from 7 official sources

Woman in colorful attire cooking outdoors in rural area using traditional methods.
Photo: Aliyu Ahmad musa / Pexels
Table of contents
  • The SCTP targets ultra-poor and labour-constrained households across all 28 districts of Malawi, with retargeting expanding coverage to 382,457 households2
  • Monthly cash transfers range from 244,000 Kwacha for single-member households to 374,000 Kwacha for larger families, with recent increases from 9,000 to 19,000 Kwacha per beneficiary36
  • The programme aims to reduce poverty and hunger, increase school enrolment, and improve health and nutrition of beneficiaries6
  • Electronic payment methods are now being implemented to ensure timely and secure fund disbursement58

The Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP), known locally as Mtukula Pakhomo, is a government support scheme that provides regular cash payments to ultra-poor and labour-constrained households throughout Malawi. The programme is part of the broader Malawi National Social Support Programme and operates across all 28 districts of the country.23

Who qualifies

The SCTP targets ultra-poor households and those with labour constraints—families who face particular difficulties in earning income through work.2 The programme also targets low-income households in urban areas through separate initiatives like the Covid-19 Urban Cash Intervention.10 Beneficiary households are identified through a retargeting process, as some families may graduate from poverty or experience changing household compositions.1

Striking black and white portrait of an elderly woman wearing a traditional headscarf in a rustic village setting.
Illustrative photo by Ayhan Karaca on Pexels

Payment amounts and frequency

Monthly payments vary by household size.6 Single-member households receive 244,000 Kwacha, while larger families receive up to 374,000 Kwacha.6 The government has increased the monthly allocation beneficiaries receive, raising amounts from 9,000 Kwacha to 19,000 Kwacha, with consideration for further upward revision.3

Programme goals

The SCTP is designed to achieve three main objectives: reducing poverty and hunger, increasing school enrolment among children, and improving the health and nutrition of beneficiary households.6 Many beneficiaries have used the support to acquire assets, invest in small-scale businesses, build houses, and improve their daily meals.1

Isometric image of online money transfer via mobile phones on light background \
Illustrative photo by Monstera Production on Pexels

How payments are made

The government has migrated from manual cash disbursement to electronic payment methods to ensure beneficiaries receive their stipends reliably and securely.58 This system assists beneficiaries in budgeting and enhances security in fund distribution.5

Official sources

  1. Social cash transfer re-targets 3,000 households in Neno manaonline.gov.mw · archived copy
  2. 2025 Economic and Fiscal Policy Statement finance.gov.mw · PDF
  3. SONA Taking Stock and Advantage of our Progress in Achieving Economic Recovery and Resilience finance.gov.mw · PDF
  4. Minister impressed with e-payment on SCTP in Nkhotakota manaonline.gov.mw · archived copy
  5. Neno Council disburses over K837 million in Lean Season Response and SCTs manaonline.gov.mw · archived copy
  6. SCTP migrates embraces E- payment in Likoma manaonline.gov.mw · archived copy
  7. Revised Final CUCI Report finance.gov.mw · PDF

Every fact in this guide comes from these official Government of Malawi pages, numbered to match. Fees, dates and rules change: confirm on the official site before you go. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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