ACCESS TO COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES OF LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT AGAINST POVERTY-(LEAP) SOCIAL PROTECTION INTERVENTION IN NADOWLI-KALEO DISTRICT, GHANA

Abstract

Social Protection Programs in various countries provide protection for citizens to reduce poverty. Ghana introduced social policy interventions such as NHIS, school feeding, school capitation grants and the livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP) programme aimed at reducing poverty. Cash transfers are complemented by existing services and can subsist successful in achieving preferred impacts and ensuring their sustainability. Cash alone cannot assuage non-financial and structural barriers to improving living standards and well-being. LEAP cash transfer programme aim at, improving basic household consumption, nutrition, access to health care for children, older persons and people with severe disability; increase basic school enrolment, attendance and retention; and facilitate access to complementary services. Many studies did not focus on access to complementary services. This study is underpinned by vulnerability theory of Mather A. Fineman (2008) and provides evidence on access to complementary services of the LEAP programme in Nadowli-Kaleo district using a mixed method research design. Methods used were questionnaire administration, focus group discussions and interviews. The evidence showed LIPWs, NHIS, School feeding, PWD fund, micro-credit support, productive inclusion safety net and local economic development are complementary services in the study area. Only few have been accessed by beneficiaries. Beneficiary knowledge on complementary services is high on some services as (74%) HHs has knowledge on LIPWs, agric input, YES programme, NHIS, PWD fund and school feeding. Economic and resource barriers were the main barriers faced by beneficiaries of LEAP. Knowledge on services is an important component to access to services as it facilitates efforts at linking clients to services.