Grenada, classified as a low-medium income economy, contends with a poverty rate exceeding 37%, with 15% deemed vulnerable to heightened poverty in the aftermath of natural disasters.

In 2019, with guidance from the World Bank, the Government of Grenada amalgamated three cash transfer programs into a unified initiative called “Support for Education, Empowerment and Development (SEED).” This consolidation, featuring the Public Assistance Program, Necessitous Funds and the School Transportation Allowance scheme, aimed at streamlining assistance efforts.

Under the SEED Program, the Ministry of Social Development conducts annual reviews to assess fiscal requirements and incrementally aids the neediest households. This strategy targets both short-term and long-term poverty alleviation by enhancing cash transfers to impoverished families, improving educational outcomes for schoolchildren and bolstering health care within households.

SEED Program Outcomes in Grenada: Elevating Lives

To gauge the success of the SEED program in Grenada, four key outcomes were established within a consolidation framework. These outcomes include the number of households from the poorest strata benefiting from the program, the percentage of program transfers reaching these households, school attendance rates and the percentage of households receiving preventative health care services.

The aid provided to households was incrementally improved, adapting to the evolving needs of the poor. In like manner, criteria for cash transfers were meticulously determined based on specific characteristics like age, marital status, employment status and education level. In 2017, the allocation per household was EC$300 per month, and in 2018, a 30% increase in aid was implemented to counter rising commodity prices and the cost of living. The impact assessment revealed a reduction in poverty by more than 2%.

Education and Student Support

Recognizing the crucial role of education in poverty reduction and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Inclusive and equitable education for all), the Government of Grenada (GoG) focused on supporting students amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2017/2018 academic year, primary and secondary school enrollment exceeded 22,000 students. The SEED program played a vital role by assisting almost 17,000 students. However, the onset of the pandemic led to mandatory school closures, affecting more than 24,000 students who lacked access to online classes for an initial period of nine months. In January 2021, schools gradually resumed in-person classes, adopting a blended curriculum format.

Throughout the closures, students received support from the SEED program, addressing essential needs such as food and transportation. Confronting challenges in providing online education to the underprivileged, the government actively explores solutions, including the distribution of mobile devices to facilitate additional support and improve students’ access to education. This demonstrates the commitment to overcoming barriers and ensuring educational equity during these unprecedented times.

Government Response to COVID-19 in Grenada

In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Grenada implemented strategic fiscal adjustments with a focus on social protection initiatives. The aim was to mitigate the adverse impacts on the population. Health care expenditures went into achieving vaccination targets in 2021, contributing to the overall pandemic response.

A noteworthy initiative was the expansion of the SEED Program in 2021, accounting for approximately EC$5.3 million of a bigger EC$36 million stimulus package. This expansion aimed to extend support to individuals who hadn’t previously received SEED benefits, addressing income loss, unemployment and health care challenges resulting from the pandemic.

The government’s commitment to addressing the socio-economic fallout of COVID-19 is evident in the 2022 cash transfer increase, with households experiencing a nearly 50% rise in assistance. This boost in financial aid played a crucial role in alleviating the negative consequences of the ongoing pandemic.

These measures underscore the government’s proactive approach to providing tangible support to its citizens during the post-COVID era. The combination of increased cash transfers and targeted initiatives reflects a commitment to bolstering social protection and fostering resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges.

SEED Program Recertifications and Upgrades

As of April 2023, the conditional cash transfer program in Grenada, designed for the poorest and most vulnerable households, reached 7,373 beneficiaries. This marks a 4% increase since June 2022. The government, recognizing inconsistencies and malpractices in beneficiary determination, has undertaken a two-year effort to recertify the program. By June 2023, adjustments led to the removal of certain beneficiaries and the addition of 200 more individuals, bringing the total legitimate beneficiaries to 7,575.

Addressing the challenges outlined in the Disaster Resilience Strategy of March 2022, the SEED program’s IT infrastructure will undergo an upgrade. This enhancement will facilitate program scaling based on geo-references, ensuring direct support reaches the vulnerable population promptly following natural disasters.

The Future Of SEED in Grenada

The SEED program’s objective is to assist the poorest and most vulnerable through cash-based aid, health care and education support. Enhancements in eligibility determination, regular updates of census and labor force survey data and the adoption of cashless payments could enhance the program’s effectiveness. In addition, periodic reviews of framework adoption and outcomes could ensure improved resource access for the unserved and underserved, aligning with Grenada’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

– Sudha Krishnaswami
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