– urges similar future initiatives to help eliminate poverty
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lauded the Government of Guyana for implementing targeted transfers of money, including the $100,000 cash grant per adult initiative, going on to encourage further transfers in the coming years.
In recent years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has implemented a number of cash transfers, including the ‘Because we care’ cash grant, the $100,000 per adult cash grant and a cash grant of $100,000 per newborn baby.
In its 2025 assessment of Guyana, the IMF praised these initiatives and the good they can do and have been doing. According to the IMF in its 2025 Article IV statement, these cash transfer policies have actually helped increase disposable income and reduce the poverty rate.
As a matter of fact, the IMF urged that going forward, Guyana should integrate more targeted cash transfers into its medium-term fiscal framework. This, according to the institution, can further support inclusive growth and eliminate poverty, as per its Sustainable Development Goal.
“Staff assesses that social transfer policies implemented in recent years have increased disposable income and reduced the poverty rate. Going forward, additional targeted transfers, integrated into a medium-term fiscal framework, could further support inclusive growth and help Guyana advance faster toward its sustainable development goal (SDG) of no poverty,” the IMF stated.
Scene from the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant for each child
It was only on Saturday that the Government rolled out its $100,000 cash grant for each newborn child to a Guyanese mother. Some 2,052 births have been recorded between January and February 2025, making up the first batch of mothers set to benefit from the initiative.
The Government of Guyana has allocated $1.3 billion annually to deliver a $100,000 one-off cash grant to each child born to a Guyanese mother. This measure was introduced in the 2025 National Budget.
In addition to the rollout of $100,000 cash grant for newborns, First Lady Arya Ali has ensured that some 600 mothers were provided with diapers and baby wipes — a small but significant support to help ease the early days of motherhood.
Along with the First Lady’s gift, another key aspect of the launch was the provision of birth certificates for the newborns. This initiative, in partnership with the General Register Office (GRO), is part of the Government’s effort to streamline administrative processes and make essential services more accessible to parents across Guyana.
Meanwhile, the $100,000 per adult cash grant is an initiative that targets as much as 600,000 Guyanese. So far, over 490,000 cheques have been distributed from the cash grant initiative, with the Government anticipating that 95 per cent of the entire process can be completed by the middle of March.
Approximately 600,000 Guyanese aged 18 and above are eligible for the cash grant, which was first announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali in October last year. Temporary centres have been established countrywide to facilitate the registration and distribution of the cash grant.
Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had explained that even after these centres are closed, persons who are yet to register or receive their cheques can do so at their respective Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), or at other similar offices.
Persons who for varying reasons have not been able to register would still have an opportunity to collect their cash grants Minister Singh had assured, provided that they get themselves registered. The Ministry of Finance has been posting the distribution schedules on its social media pages.
