Integrating Cash Transfers into Gender-Based Violence Programs in Jordan: Benefits, risks and challenges

With limited global practice and guidance on programming cash transfers to enhance protection in an emergency context, in 2013, the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) started cash transfer programming (CTP) as part of the urban Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program in Jordan. Three years into the program, the IRC sought to reflect on its experiences to inform future use of cash assistance in gender based violence (GBV) programming in Jordan and other contexts.

The objective of this case study is to identify lessons learned and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of cash-based interventions in mitigating GBV risks and building women and girls’ resilience. Specifically, the research seeks to examine how the combination of cash transfers and psycho-social services (case management, counselling, and gender discussion groups) support women and girls’ protection, if and how cash assistance exacerbates protection issues, and how existing assessment, monitoring, and targeting tools and systems can be further strengthened