South Africa faces unacceptably high rates of maternal and child malnutrition and stunting, most damaging during the first 1,000 days of life. These challenges are particularly acute for women who are poor, unemployed, or working informally, many of whom live in female-headed households with little access to maternity benefits, childcare, and adequate healthcare.
This policy brief, published by the Hold my Hand accelerator, makes a compelling case for introducing a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) in South Africa. The MSG is proposed as a monthly cash transfer starting in the second trimester of pregnancy and transitioning automatically to the Child Support Grant (CSG) after birth. The brief identifies a critical gap in the current social protection system: pregnant women, particularly those in low-income households, lack financial support during pregnancy, a period that profoundly influences child health and development. The proposed MSG aims to reduce developmental risks by imrpoving maternal wellbeing, enabling better nutrition, and facilitating access to healthcare.
