"Living in a single roomed house with children who are fast growing is uncomfortable to me. I feel I am deprived of my privacy and therefore, I intent to build a bigger house with at least two rooms. My 2 children will sleep in one, and my wife and I sleep in another. I will spend the first transfer in building it and lend credence my privacy in my life." (Country: Kenya)

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me since I intend to use it to meet my most felt needs. Firstly, I intend to use the cash transfers to purchase posts and chain links for fencing. I intend to use about KES 40000 of the cash transfers on this. Secondly I intend to purchase a cow which I will milk. This will cost me approximately KES 25000. Thirdly I intend to purchase 5 goats which will cost me about KES 20000. This will be my investment into the future. Finally, I intend to use the cash transfer to pay for my grand daughter's school fees. This is important because I will be able to pay off part of the school fees which she owes the school. I'm grateful that I have been considered to receive the cash transfers since I really needed money for these things but I didn't have a way of getting them." (Country: Kenya)

"Next year, my husband and I are planning to lease a piece of land so we can start farming. We’ve been thinking about it for a while, and now seems like the right time. We want to focus on green peas and maize. You see, this is a farming region, and green peas are great because they’re drought-resistant. Even if the rains don’t come as expected, we’ll still have a chance at a decent crop. We’re waiting on one last transfer, and once that comes through, we’ll use the money to set everything up for the venture. We’re really hopeful that the harvest will be good. If things go well, we want to use the profits to open a small business. That way, we can stay independent and sustain ourselves without having to rely on anyone else. It’s a dream we’ve had for a while, and we’re ready to make it happen." (Country: Kenya)

"Receiving this money means my compound and farms will have proper fencing. I have an acre of grass which I sell during the rainy season to be able to pay school fees but has poor fencing. Hippos, goats and cows access it and destroy a better part of it hence low production hence affecting my income. I plan on purchasing fencing poles and mesh at a cost of $400 using the transfers. I am so excited because my farm will be secured and my yield will double from that." (Country: Kenya)

"I am planning to invest $800 to purchase 10 goats. This is a low risk venture with good returns as they multiply within a short period. I will then sell them one at a time to pay my children's fees when necessary." (Country: Kenya)

"My primary goal for the coming year and beyond is to complete building my dream house, a project I’ve already begun. Not having a proper home has been challenging, but I’ve always envisioned living in an iron-roofed house. To bring this dream to life, I’ve been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to buy building materials gradually. So far, I’ve managed to buy a few iron sheets and some building poles, and I’m hopeful that construction can begin soon. An iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rain, which has been a constant struggle in my current living situation. I am determined to save more to purchase the remaining poles, timber, nails, and cover labor costs to bring this dream to fruition. In addition to my housing project, I’m also committed to enrolling my child in secondary school, as he completed primary school last year. Ensuring he continues his education is very important to me, so I’ve started saving $1,000 each month towards his school fees. Thanks to these efforts, I have managed to build most of the house and only have the door left to complete." (Country: Kenya)

"I currently have a small one-room house, which is no longer sufficient for my growing family. My goal for the coming year is to to build a new, three-room house to better accommodate us. This improvement would make a significant difference in our lives, as the current space has been challenging. I plan to fund this construction by selling some of my livestock and saving a portion of my income from work. Having a proper home will reduce the stress we face, provide us with safety and security, and improve our overall quality of life. I'm grateful for this chance to create a better living environment, and I am committed to making it happen for the well-being of my family." (Country: Kenya)

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to invest in buying goats. My goal is to sell them in the future to earn money for food and school fees, especially as their numbers increase. I have already purchased seven goats and two sheep using my monthly savings. My children are still in school, and as they progress, their school fees continue to rise. I want to stay ahead by preparing for this financial need. Currently, I have a total of eight goats, three of which are expecting. I've witnessed my goats reproduce, and I am confident they will keep multiplying. This will ensure that when the need for school fees arises, my husband can sell some goats to provide the necessary cash. Additionally, I want to be able to buy them school uniforms and shoes as needed, which will also be supported by the sales from these animals." (Country: Kenya)

"I've been living in a grass-thatched house for years, but my dream has always been to have an iron-roofed house. To make this dream a reality, I've been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to gradually purchase building materials. So far, I've managed to acquire 22 iron sheets and some building poles, and I'm hopeful that I can begin construction soon. My primary focus is achieving this goal, as an iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rains, which have been a constant challenge in my current home. I plan to continue saving to buy the remaining building poles, timber, and nails, as well as to cover labor costs. Alongside this, I am also using part of my transfer to boost on my poultry and goat business , which will support me in finishing up the building work and achieving a more secure future." (Country: Kenya)

"My goal is to revive my restaurant, where I used to serve a variety of dishes like chapatis, beans, tea, and ugali. Running my own business is more fulfilling than working for someone else, as it allows me to invest extra effort into ensuring its success. Currently, I am doing hairdressing at clients' homes for a small fee after having to close down the restaurant due to several challenges. I am determined to bring the restaurant back to life, fulfilling my entrepreneurial dreams. The prolonged drought led to a severe water shortage, forcing me to temporarily close the restaurant. The nearest water source was far from my shop, and water was being sold at $0.55 per 20-liter container, making it unsustainable to keep the business running. This situation caused losses and reduced customer visits. However, I am planning to reopen the restaurant soon. Until then, I am sustaining myself by offering hairdressing services to clients in their homes." (Country: Kenya)