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The CALP Network Annual Report 2023-24

While this Annual Report illustrates the work that we do at CALP – underlining the key issues that face those directly and indirectly involved in the delivery of humanitarian CVA to people in need around the world – it only reflects a small amount of everything that has happened during the year.

2024 — By CALP Network

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Our work at the CALP Network this year (April 2023 to March 2024) has taken place against a backdrop of significant challenges and growing humanitarian needs: the ongoing war in Ukraine, appalling violence in Sudan, the dire conflict in Gaza, continuing problems in Venezuela and the surrounding areas. We have seen tens of millions of people around the world desperately affected by disasters beyond their control, which result in displacement, economic crisis, and a scarcity of basic human needs, such as food, water and medicine.

Simultaneously, the humanitarian sector faces significant cuts in funding with a record-breaking US$32bn shortfall in aid budgets globally that left 57% of humanitarian needs unmet in 2023. Germany, France and the UK all announced cuts to their aid budgets during the year and the European bloc saw a real-terms decline in funding. The human cost of the growing funding gap is high; it is life-shattering for millions across the world.

With these concerns at the forefront, CALP’s role as thought leaders and facilitators of humanitarian cash and voucher assistance (CVA) has never been more crucial. In this Annual Report, you will read about our flagship publication The State of the World’s Cash 2023 which represents a neutral and authoritative assessment of the current context of CVA as part of humanitarian aid. Both analytical and reflective, it pulls together the views of people involved in CVA policy and practice from around the world, synthesizes research from the last three years and cross-references findings with evidence of the views of people in crisis.

You can also read about our work to drive forward a global review of CVA policy. This began with a meeting of senior leaders and is continuing through a combination of evidence-based reports, analysis and dialogue to reshape the way humanitarian CVA is delivered in the contexts of best practice and the global realities of peoples in crisis.

We are also proud of our work supporting, and advocating for, local and regional actors in delivering CVA responses in many parts of the world. The implementation of CVA has benefitted from previous efforts around preparedness, and strong technical guidance, but with delivery increasingly viewed and influenced through the lens of a locally-led response. Our work on CVA for people on the move has been another important area, building on our recent research and recommendations on this critical issue. Of course, there is much still to do and CALP will be continuing to work with actors in conflict- and crisis-affected areas to ensure that people are able to receive the aid they desperately need.

In recent years, we have started to hear a narrative that claims cash is done and work around the policies, practice and evaluation of humanitarian CVA is complete. However, there is still need for great change to make CVA truly people-centred, and there is still a huge gap between the volume of CVA currently being delivered and the amount that would be delivered if it were used in all situations where feasible and appropriate. What is more, major changes are needed to the humanitarian system to ensure that CVA is locally-led wherever possible. In short, cash is far from done. As a network, we will continue to work tirelessly to build and develop our influence, to conduct evidence-based research and to exercise global thought leadership to ensure that CVA reaches the people who need it, allowing them to retain agency and dignity whatever their situation.

While this Annual Report illustrates the work that we do at CALP – underlining the key issues that face those directly and indirectly involved in the delivery of humanitarian CVA to people in need around the world – it only reflects a small amount of everything that has happened during the year. We are proud of our achievements this year, but clear that there is much still to do. We hope that you can join us on our journey toward ensuring that CVA becomes a cornerstone modality to aid the increasing numbers of people around the world in desperate need.