CVA for Health Outcomes: Learnings from Jordan, Burkina Faso and Bangladesh

How can Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) support the goal of improved health outcomes in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerability?  

During this webinar, we shared learning from three programmes that used cash and vouchers to  improve access to and utilization of health services. This was achieved by either by reducing direct and indirect financial barriers, and/or by incentivizing the use of free preventive services.  

During the course of the webinar we also discussed some of the concerns around using cash and voucher assistance to achieve health outcomes. Some people worry that CVA, in particular through MPC, may undermine the principle that people should be able to access sufficient quality health care which is free (or at least affordable) at the point of service. The current focus on CVA for health responds to the realisation that, in many humanitarian and development contexts, focusing only on the supply side of health care is not enough, and that we also need to find ways to address demand side barriers to strengthen the demand for and access to services.  

Speakers

Facilitators

Yassmin Moor, CashCaP Advisor, WHO
Julie Lawson McDowall, Research Coordinator, the CALP Network

Bringing learnings from Burkina Faso

Dr Nikiema Laurent, Point focal Santé at Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.
Élodie Ho, WHO consultant

Bringing learnings from Bangladesh

Md. Nasir Uddin Sikder, Project Coordinator, Resource Integration Centre (RIC)
Emranul Haq, Consortium Programme Manager, Concern Worldwide
Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director for Health, Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM)

Bringing learnings from Jordan 

Lou Puddy, Acting Country Director for Jordan Programme, Medair