CashCast Podcast Series 3: Making Change Happen
In this third series of CashCast, we will be exploring what it takes to make change happen in humanitarian organizations in relation to cash and voucher assistance (CVA). This includes looking at how to translate ideas into reality, while addressing challenges such as changing mindsets, adapting policies and processes, creating new partnerships, dealing with funding issues at different stages, and managing risks.
Evidence indicates that CVA could constitute 30-50% of international humanitarian assistance (IHA) if it were implemented in all feasible and appropriate situations. By 2022 CVA accounted for 21% of IHA, suggesting that there is massive opportunity for the growth in the use of CVA. What will it take to get there? What challenges are organizations facing and what changes are taking place?
In each episode, we will be joined by individuals from across the sector who have experience in implementing such changes. They will discuss:
- How to translate a vision for change into practical action
- The many changes need to policies, processes and partnerships
- Issues around funding, from start up to scale up
- The continuing challenges of dealing with risks – both real and perceived
- And, finally, the experience of one organization that has been committed to cash programming from its inception, and the issues they faced as they scaled-up the use of cash.
Join us as we hear from guests who’ve all been involved in creating change and learn how we can all contribute to ensuring that cash assistance reaches its full potential.
Explore the Episodes
3.1. Series three trailer
Listen to interview highlights from the upcoming series.
3.2. How do we make change happen?
What are the initial steps towards making change happen?
Featuring Anna Kondakhchyan, Dr. Kathryn Taetzsch and Oliver May
3.3: How to turn an idea into reality? 3 Ps: Policies, processes, and partnerships
In this episode, our guests discuss the process of translating this vision into concrete actions, and ultimately, scaling up the use of cash within an organization.
Featuring Anna Kondakhchyan and Sindhy Obias
Episode 3.4: Money Matters! Funding for CVA
In this episode we examine the relationship between funding, change, and the expansion of CVA in the humanitarian sector. Guests discuss the role of funding at different stages, from the very beginning through to scale-up.
Featuring Anna Kondakhchyan, Irfan Khan, Sindhy Obias and Oliver May
Episode 3.5: Risk: it’s inevitable – so what do we do about it?
Risk is an inherent aspect of life – even inaction carries its own risks. The crucial question is how we manage risk. Given the critical importance of risk management in humanitarian response, many question why there is so much focus on risk when it comes to discussions about cash. Are real and perceived risks hindering the wider adoption of cash?
Featuring Irfan Khan, Oliver May and Sindhy Obias
Episode 3.6: Scaling-up the use of CVA
This episode is different from others in the series. Here, we explore the journey of one organization that embraced cash from its outset, eliminating the need to transition from other aid modalities. Did this cash-centric approach pave the way for smooth scaling-up, or were there challenges along the way? A conversation with the Regional Director of GiveDirectly provides compelling insights.
Featuring Lydiah Wangechi and Sindhy Obias
Your Host
Karen Peachey
Karen worked with CALP from early 2017 through to August 2024. She has worked in both development and humanitarian contexts since the 1990s. Among many other things, Karen has a keen interest in networks, the power of collective action, and how systems change happens. She recorded this series before leaving CALP.
The Guests for this Series
Anna Kondakhchyan
She is a senior leader, experienced in change management for humanitarian aid organisations and networks; expertise and interests include design and implementation of digital cash in humanitarian and social protection settings, responsible data and (digital) risk management. With extensive management experience leading high performing multicultural teams, managing complex stakeholder relationships and developing partnerships to effect change. I am a qualified career coach, facilitator, action learning practitioner and a member of a growing cohort of digital financial services professionals. With broad international experience. She is currently the Head of Cash & Markets at NORCAP.
Irfan Khan
He is an experienced professional in the international development and humanitarian aid sector, with over 20 years of experience. He has worked in various roles from the field level to his current position as Director of Humanitarian and International Partnerships at Muslim Hands. Irfan has a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from London South Bank University, UK.
Dr. Kathryn Taetzsch
Kathryn has over 25 years of strategic and operational humanitarian response and academic research experience in fragile, conflict- and natural disaster-affected contexts in Africa, Asia, and Middle East, Eastern Europe (Ukraine Crisis, Iraq Response), and Latin America (e.g. West Africa Ebola response, South Sudan/ Uganda Refugees, Iraq IDPs and Syrian Refugees, Darfur crisis response, Indonesia IDPs, Hurricane response in central America, El-Nino disaster preparedness & response, etc). She is currently World Vision International’s Snr. Director, Global Humanitarian and Development Capacity and Capabilities.
Lydiah Wangechi Muya
Lydiah is an accomplished development professional with extensive experience in managing and scaling impactful programs across Africa. Her career is marked by her commitment to enhancing the economic empowerment of vulnerable communities through innovative development programs and strategic partnerships. She currently serves as the Regional Director for GiveDirectly, overseeing operations, fundraising, and partnerships in Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, and Mozambique, managing a portfolio exceeding $100 million.
Oliver May
Oliver May is a specialist consultant on risk in the humanitarian and development sector. He is passionate about locally-led, pragmatic and collaborative risk management. He was formerly the head of Deloitte’s international development practice, Oxfam’s head of counter-fraud, and an officer in what is now the UK’s National Crime Agency. Oliver is the author of two books supporting aid agencies to manage fraud and counterterrorism risk.
Sindhy Obias
She is a humanitarian and development worker who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development (ACCORD), a Philippine non-government organization. She has 21 years of experience in community-based humanitarian and development work, with extensive involvement in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of both Integrated Risk Management programs and humanitarian response actions in the Philippines. Throughout her career, Ms. Obias has collaborated closely with communities, educational institutions, local and national government agencies, and civil society organizations.
