Nearly a decade later, UBI is regaining traction. The economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inequality, and growing global instability have reignited public interest. Still, national-level implementation remains politically fraught. In high-income countries, it is often dismissed as utopian or financially unfeasible. 

But what if we saw UBI not as a domestic burden, but as a global opportunity? What if UBI,  too costly to implement at home, could succeed where it’s needed most — at a fraction of the cost, and with transformative impact?

A World Apart, But Not Without Parallels

Roughly 4,600 kilometers from Switzerland lies Sierra Leone, home to a similar number of people but with a GDP per capita of just about 0.5%¹ compared to Switzerland. As one of the world’s younger democracies, Sierra Leone still regularly ranks among the poorest nations. More than half of the population suffers from food insecurity², and access to basic infrastructure like electricity, sanitation, and clean drinking water remains inconsistent or unavailable in many regions.

Nonetheless, Sierra Leone has made significant progress. Investments in healthcare, postwar reconstruction and democratic governance have contributed to steady improvements. One of the most notable developments has been the rapid expansion of mobile payment infrastructure. This nationwide system not only allows people to access banking services and withdraw cash securely. It also laid the foundation for our work: delivering financial support directly to individuals, no matter where they live.

Voluntary, Direct, Human-Centered

Founded in 2020 as a Swiss nonprofit association, Social Income was created to enable voluntary, direct redistribution of income — from those with more, to those with less. The premise is simple: contributors donate 1% of their monthly income, which is pooled and redistributed as guaranteed, unconditional payments.

By combining the principle of a UBI with the efficiency of direct mobile cash transfers, Social Income bypasses bureaucracy and political bottlenecks. Funds are sent directly to recipients’ mobile phones: securely, efficiently, and without unnecessary intermediaries.

Our pilot project is based in Sierra Leone. Recipients are all part of low-income communities, often marginalized in both social and economic contexts, and endorsed by local organizations or community networks. They receive monthly payments of 32 Int$³ for a period of three years.  The aim is not only to cover essential needs, but to create a stable financial foundation — one that enables individuals to move forward with greater autonomy, dignity, and long-term security.

Why Cash? 

Our approach is grounded in a strong and growing body of research. Numerous studies have shown that direct cash transfers significantly improve recipients’ well-being.  They increase spending on essentials like food, healthcare, and housing, while stimulating local economies and enabling recipients to reinvest in their communities.

Beyond meeting material needs, cash transfers have been shown to:

• Increase school attendance

• Encourage long-term financial planning

• Strengthen resilience to shocks such as pandemics, natural disasters, or medical emergencies

• Empower women, particularly in contexts where social norms limit financial independence

• Reduce rates of adolescent crime and HIV prevalence

• Alleviate poverty-related mental health challenges

Maximising Impact

What sets us apart from other cash transfer programs is radical efficiency: Thanks to a decentralized team of international volunteers, all individual donations go directly to recipients. Our operational and administrative costs are covered through institutional grants and awards, not through donor funds. 

As of today, Social Income has paid out over 5000 installments. With a growing number of contributors and the successful completion of our pilot project in Sierra Leone, we are now preparing to scale. Our goal is ambitious but clear: By 2030, we aim to inspire 1% of the Swiss population to donate 1% of their income. This would demonstrate that UBI across borders is not only affordable, but deeply impactful where the need is greatest.

Transnational Care Matters More Than Ever

We live in an era increasingly defined by fragmentation — nationalism, populism, isolationism. In many wealthy nations, welfare systems are contracting, and international cooperation is increasingly seen as a liability rather than a moral obligation. 

Social Income offers a different vision.

It is a quiet but powerful reminder that global solidarity need not wait for policy reform or political consensus. It can start with individuals across countries and income levels, committing to redistribution as an act of mutual care, not charity.

It shows that the idea of an unconditional basic income isn’t limited by national borders. It can be voluntary. It can be direct. And most importantly, it can work — right now.

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Footnotes

1. Based on data from the World Bank (2020)

2. Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2022 Country Report – Sierra Leone. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2022.

3. The international $ (Int$) is a hypothetical currency tied to the purchasing power parity (PPP) of the US$ in the United States at any given time. Taking into account inflation rates, the effective amount paid out by Social Income in the local currency is subject to change. By time of writing, the monthly installments were each 700 SLE.