The Umsobomvu Youth Fund is a government agency tasked with supporting the growth and development of youth in South Africa, including improved livelihoods through employment and self-employment. UYF commissioned this paper on best practices, drawing on lessons from leading organizations in Africa, to accelerate the learning process and facilitate informed decisions by UYF staff on the best way to move the organization’s microfinance initiative forward.

Practical and user-friendly, this volume provides an evidence and rights-based approach to monitoring the well-being of children and adolescents in South Africa. Drawing on international precedents, and extensive peer review processes, experts in various fields have developed this holistic set of indicators to enhance the monitoring of the status of children.

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund is a government agency tasked with supporting the growth and development of youth in South Africa, including improved livelihoods through employment and self-employment. Microfinance is just one of seven activities/strategies identified by UYF
to carry out its mission.

UYF has commissioned Vulindlela Development Finance Consultants to assist with the development of its delivery model for microfinance. As a first step, UYF has asked Vulindlela to prepare a paper on best practices, drawing on lessons from leading organizations in Africa.

The South African state awards unconditional means-tested cash transfers to the caregivers of some eight million poor children. Amidst increasing demands on the state for social assistance, the question has been asked: should the Child Support Grant (CSG) be made conditional on education or health related behaviour to enhance its effectiveness? Issues relating to the popular Latin American conditional cash transfer programmes for children are summarised. The history, current reach and impact of the CSG are described, as well as administrative strengths and weaknesses in delivery.