29-year-old Maureen, who lost her home, four goats, and property when Lake Albert and River Semliki burst their banks in late 2024. Once a landowner, Maureen now struggles to pay rent for the land where her makeshift house stands. Feeding her three children has become a daily battle, and affording nutritious meals is a luxury she can barely dream of. As a breastfeeding mother to her one-year-old and two-month-old daughter, Deborah, Maureen had hoped to continue nursing her until the age of two. 

29-year-old Maureen, who lost her home, four goats, and property when Lake Albert and River Semliki burst their banks in late 2024. Once a landowner, Maureen now struggles to pay rent for the land where her makeshift house stands. Feeding her three children has become a daily battle, and affording nutritious meals is a luxury she can barely dream of. As a breastfeeding mother to her one-year-old and two-month-old daughter, Deborah, Maureen had hoped to continue nursing her until the age of two. 

World Vision Southern Africa, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund, is implementing adolescent-friendly spaces (AFS) across Zambia to support young people in making informed Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) decisions. Through the IMPACT+ model, a life skills approach integrating education, behavior change, and service-learning, over 36,000 out-of-school adolescents have been reached with SRH interventions, empowering them to navigate challenges like early pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and peer pressure. By equipping peer educators and health workers with IMPACT+ skills, the initiative fosters safe spaces where adolescents can access SRHR education, receive guidance, and build confidence. With increased community involvement and government support, this model is paving the way for sustainable adolescent health and well-being in the region.

This research, commissioned by World Vision’s Middle East and Eastern Europe (MEER) regional office in partnership with Qualisus Consulting, aims to assess the broader impact of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programmes on marginalised groups and young people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being, livelihood-resilience, community and social cohesion, and child well-being.

The Cash Waves research, commissioned by World Vision’s MEER office in partnership with Qualisus Consulting, aims to assess the broader impact of CVA programmes on mental health and psychosocial well-being, livelihood-resilience, community cohesion, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and child well-being amongst marginalised groups and youth.