Delivering results for children through a locally funded social protection programme

Geunaseh began as a pilot programme, complementing other government social protection programmes to benefit children, such as: clean water and sanitation, positive parenting, integrated health management in early childhood and cash-based scholarship assistance for students aged 7‒17 The various programmes targeting children represents a vision of “Kota Sejahtera” (urban well-being), in line with national priority. At the preparatory stage, UNICEF supported the Sabang municipal government in drafting a major decree No 21 of 2019 on Geunaseh as a locally funded social protection scheme. The decree stipulates key provision, coordination mechanisms, and the role of local stakeholders, including village authorities. Following the issuance of the decree, a Geunaseh Secretariat is established to facilitate coordination and support the implementation. Subsequent trainings targeting service providers down to the village levels are then organized. UNICEF support the development of management information system, including software and hardware, to ensure accurate targeting and monitoring. UNICEF also support the development and dissemination of communication for development materials to build awareness and call for participation from the community. Throughout 2019, Sabang government distributed of direct cash assistance amounting to IDR 9 billion (USD 620,000) to approximately 5,000 children aged 0-6 years.