The effect of cash transfer usage on enrolment and retention of girls in schools in Yambio, WES of South Sudan

Abstract

Interventions including cash transfers in the educational system are now essential for removing financial obstacles and encouraging enrollment among students. Early marriage and poverty provide obstacles to girls’ education in South Sudan, as families struggle to pay for school materials and tuition. Despite the government’s efforts to increase girls’ participation through cash transfer programs in Yambio, knowledge of the effectiveness and sustainability of the programs is still inadequate. In Yambio, South Sudan, this paper provides a thorough analysis of the effects of cash transfer programs on girls’ enrollment and retention. Government representatives, opinion leaders, NGOs, and study participants were surveyed using a hybrid research methodology that used quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings show a considerable increase in the enrollment of girls, with no apparent decline. Parents’ motivation to send their daughters to school was positively impacted by cash transfers, which were largely utilized to purchase educational supplies, livestock, and support food provision. The results emphasize the need for ongoing investment in cash transfer programs and offer insightful information for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders working to advance girls’ education in the area. Although Yambio was the focus of the study, similar programs in other situations can benefit from the implications. Future studies could examine the program’s long-term effects as well as variances among socioeconomic circumstances, taking into account how it affects the empowerment and wellbeing of girls. In Yambio and beyond, cash transfer initiatives are extremely important for overcoming educational hurdles and advancing girls’ education.