Adolescents Cash Plus Programme

Adolescents Cash Plus Programme

The Adolescent Cash Plus Programme (AdoP) is a Government of Kenya intervention implemented by the State Department for Children Services to address the multidimensional vulnerabilities faced by adolescents.

The programme targets adolescents aged 10–18 years in selected counties characterized by high levels of poverty, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and socio-economic exclusion. It adopts a cash-plus approach, combining direct financial support with complementary social, behavioural, and economic interventions.

AdoP integrates services across sectors including education, health, child protection, and social development, providing a holistic framework for adolescent support. The programme is implemented through existing government systems and community structures, leveraging tools such as the Enhanced Single Registry (ESR) and the National Safety Net Programme (NSNP) for targeting and delivery.

The overall goal of the programme is to enhance adolescent well-being, promote human capital development, and support a safe transition to adulthood, particularly for vulnerable adolescents and girls.

The Adolescent Cash Plus Programme seeks to achieve the following objectives:

  1. Increase school enrolment, attendance, and retention among adolescents, including re-enrolment of out-of-school adolescents.
  2. Reduce teenage pregnancies and early marriages through social behaviour change communication and access to reproductive health information.
  3. Enhance life skills, psychosocial well-being, and economic empowerment of adolescents, particularly girls and vulnerable groups.
  4. Strengthen institutional coordination and service delivery systems for adolescent-focused interventions within the national social protection framework.

The programme utilizes a multi-tiered targeting approach to identify and enrol eligible beneficiaries based on vulnerability and socio-economic status.

General Eligibility Requirements

  • Be aged between 10 and 18 years at the time of enrolment.
  • Reside in designated programme implementation areas.
  • Belong to a poor and vulnerable household, identified through the Enhanced Single Registry (ESR), NSNP, or community validation processes.
  • Possess or be in the process of obtaining a birth certificate or birth notification.
  • Demonstrate willingness to participate in programme interventions, including cash transfer-linked activities.
  • Have caregiver consent and commitment to support participation and compliance with programme conditions.

Additional Eligibility Conditions
a) In-School Adolescents

  • Must be enrolled in a recognized school.
  • Must maintain a minimum of 70% school attendance per term.
  • Must participate in programme activities such as adolescent safe spaces and life skills sessions.

b) Out-of-School Adolescents

  • Must be out of school due to socio-economic vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty, pregnancy, disability).
  • Must demonstrate willingness to re-enrol in school or pursue alternative learning pathways, including vocational or skills training.
  • Must participate in life skills, entrepreneurship training, and psychosocial support interventions.

 

The programme applies:

  • Geographical targeting: Selection of high-vulnerability counties and sub-counties.
  • Household targeting: Identification of poor households using ESR and NSNP data.
  • Individual targeting: Prioritization based on vulnerability factors such as gender, disability, early pregnancy, and socio-economic status.

The Adolescent Cash Plus Programme is expected to generate significant outcomes at individual, household, and national levels.

Impact on Adolescents

  • Improved school participation, retention, and completion rates.
  • Reduction in teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
  • Enhanced life skills, self-confidence, and psychosocial well-being.
  • Increased access to education, health, and child protection services.

Household-Level Impact

  • Improved household resilience and stability through financial support and social services.
  • Strengthened caregiver capacity and positive parenting practices.
  • Increased ability of households to support adolescents’ education and well-being.

System-Level Impact

  • Strengthened coordination and integration of adolescent services across sectors.
  • Improved targeting, monitoring, and service delivery systems within social protection frameworks.
  • Enhanced use of data systems (e.g., ESR, MIS) for evidence-based decision-making.

Long-Term Development Impact

  • Contribution to human capital development and productivity.
  • Reduction in intergenerational poverty and vulnerability.
  • Advancement of gender equality and social inclusion, particularly for adolescent girls.
  • Support for adolescents to transition safely and productively into adulthood.