VUP also has an educational component, including financial literacy and livelihood skills. The programme has achieved significant results in terms of new social protection instruments and wider coverage. In addition, the Government of Rwanda’s ability to manage VUP has been improved, with a strategy, systems and processes put in place to effectively manage the programme’s expansion and roll-out. Challenges persist in terms of planning and management, which has led to problems with targeting and delayed payments.
Through a UK aid-funded project – Social protection support to the poorest in Rwanda (SPSPR) – we supported the government to increase capacity, helping to extend the coverage of the social safety net to some of the country’s poorest cities and districts. Between 2013 and 2019, coverage skyrocketed from less than 30% to 70% of the population.