2021 GESS Cash Transfers to Support More Than 460,500 Girls

The Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) 2021 Cash Transfer process is scheduled to begin the week of 15^th November. The money will support 460,545 girls across the country to remain in school.

While COVID-19 has been devastating for many girls and their families in South Sudan, and across the globe, including the worsening of the economic situation, GESS’ Cash Transfers will help to alleviate the financial burden and ensure that girls reenrol and remain in school.

Enrolment currently stands at 2.56 million children in South Sudan, 48.8% are girls, according to the Schools’ Attendance Monitoring System (SAMS). Although enrolment levels have not yet reached pre-COVID-19 levels, the percentage of girls enrolled is a significant improvement on the number that was anticipated.

GESS Team Leader, Akuja de Garang, stated that, “The pandemic has exacerbated previously existing inequalities. Children who were already most at risk of being excluded from a quality education have been most affected. The Cash Transfers aim to remove some of the financial and cultural barriers that are unique to girls, such as the cost of menstrual hygiene products, as well as discouraging early and unintended pregnancies, where there has been a significant rise since schools closed last year due to COVID-19.”

460,545 girls – between Primary 5 and Senior 4 – across the country have been approved to receive the payment. Only those validated between September and October this year are approved to receive the payment.

Girls in candidate classes – Primary 8 and Senior 4 – will receive a higher amount of SSP 8,400 to assist them in the lead-up to examinations. Girls in classes Primary 5, Primary 6, Primary 7 and Senior 1, Senior 2 and Senior 3 will receive SSP 5,600. Girls must receive their funds in person. Girls who do not report to school at the time of payment will not receive their Cash Transfers.

Girls who have been approved for payment should receive the full amount of their Cash Transfer with no deductions. Any attempt to take funds away from the girls, whether by teachers, officials, police, or anyone else, is a serious offence, and will be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

Payment will be closely monitored by the GESS programme and Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) officials, reporting in real time to the central team.

We strongly encourage parents and guardians to accompany their girls to guarantee that they receive the correct amount and to ensure their safety when traveling home after the payment. Girls are also advised to travel home in groups of three or more.

It is important to report any misappropriation of funds or safeguarding threats or concerns on safety during the Cash Transfer process. This may include:

• Reduction of money during the payment process
• Replacement of girls who are absent during payment
• Issuing Cash Transfer Enrolment Forms (CTEFs) to girls who are not the correct owner

To report misappropriation, threats to safety, or if you have any queries, please contact one of the hotline numbers below:

1. MTN +211 928 520 824
2. Zain +211 917 647 891

Although lessons have resumed in South Sudan, it is still important to continue to observe the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 safety measures, including hand sanitation and physical distancing to ensure the safety of all those involved in the process. For more information on COVID-19 call the toll-free number 6666 in South Sudan. Ensuring good sanitation practices and physical distancing during the payments is of paramount importance.

Categorised in: Cash Transfers, GESS Events