How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am a farmer, and this is my main source of income. However, in the past, I planted crops without considering several important factors, like market demand, because I didn't have the necessary irrigation equipment. As a result, I limited myself to short-cycle crops and those that required little water. Now that I have bought a generator, I am planning to expand my farming operations. I used to plant only on 1 to 1.5 acres, despite having a larger tract of land, but with the generator, I plan to increase this to over 3 acres. I also intend to be more strategic in choosing which crops to plant, focusing on marketable and profitable varieties. To achieve this, I will use my final transfer to cover the expansion costs and undergo farmer training to help me acquire new skills and become a more professional farmer, better equipped to succeed in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done an excellent job in ensuring that the enrollment process is fair and transparent. What I appreciated most was that the enrollment was independent, with no involvement from community leaders, which made the process unbiased and gave everyone an equal chance. The officers were very patient throughout the process, taking time to ensure that we understood everything clearly before moving forward. After enrollment, an audit was conducted to verify that all details were correct, which gave us confidence that the system was being properly managed. The mode of receiving transfers was also effective, as everyone received the money through personal phones, making it reliable. In my opinion, GiveDirectly's approach is highly effective, and I haven't identified any areas in need of improvement. I hope they continue with the same methods moving forward.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving my second cash transfer, I prioritized things that could sustain us long-term and address some of our pressing needs. Firstly, I spent $140 to purchase two sheep because we wanted something that could provide for us even after all the transfers are finished. Sheep are a good choice because they grow fast and can multiply quickly, ensuring we have something to rely on for the future. In addition to livestock, I also do crop farming, but for years, I had been borrowing irrigation equipment from my mother. This arrangement was not always reliable, especially when water levels were low in the river, meaning I would be the last to irrigate my crops and sometimes miss out entirely, leading to crop failure. With $185 from the transfer, I bought my own generator to solve this problem. Although I already had pipes, owning the generator would now give me full control over irrigation. Food is also a basic need that became a challenge after the floods destroyed our crops, particularly maize, which is our staple. To address this, I purchased two bags of maize for $25 each to ensure we had enough to eat. Clothes were another issue we faced; most of what we had was old and worn out. I gave my wife $40 to buy new clothes for our family of five so that we could all have something decent to wear. The remaining money went toward clearing school fee arrears for our two children, both in elementary school.
