Review Paper on Targeting Shift in Humanitarian Cash Assistance for Somali Cash Consortium

The Somali Cash Consortium (SCC) has been in operation since 2017, providing Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to newly displaced populations and critically underserved individuals in Operational Priority Areas. After October 2022, Somalia’s Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) adopted a vulnerability-based approach for selecting aid recipients. This approach entailed sector integration with Cafimad plus1(+) partners offering WASH, Nutrition, or health services, and moved away from status-based and geographically focused targeting that relied heavily on IPC classification. This shift aimed to support more sectors and partners by focusing on individuals’ specific needs and vulnerabilities. The assessment aims to evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability, and impact of the shift made by the Somali Cash Consortium (SCC) in 2022 from community-based targeting to vulnerability-based targeting. This study will provide key stakeholders with valuable insights on both approaches to support decision-making on targeting of assistance to affected populations.