WFP 2nd Global Workshop on Cash and Vouchers

Executive Summary The 2nd Global Cash and Vouchers Workshop in Rome 22-23 November 2010, was convened jointly by the Programme Division (ODX) and the Policy Planning and Strategy Division (OEDP), one year following the 1st Global Cash and Vouchers Workshop convened in Johannesburg 17-19 November 2009. The overarching aim of the workshop was to consolidate new learning on designing and implementing cash and voucher modalities generated over the last 12 months and to identify success and challenges that would inform organization wide planning on taking cash and vouchers work to scale. The workshop provided a unique opportunity for exchange between WFP programme staff from all regions; representatives from a range of functions in WFP headquarters (finance, procurements, ICT, logistics, and communications); as well as a number of invited external (non WFP) participants. This 2nd Global Cash and Vouchers workshop was made possible with financial support from the German government.

Workshop Objectives

In consultation with external partners, the workshop aims to:

1.Review WFP’s current portfolio of cash and voucher programmes and identify 2nd generation lessons learned, based on the last 12 months of policy, planning and implementation experience.

2.Outline WFP’s corporate expectations regarding the scaling up of cash and vouchers going forward, including:

• strategic positioning of WFP’s role in cash and vouchers;
• anticipated growth of cash and vouchers over the next 5 years; and
• a proposed approach for better coordinating cash and vouchers support across HQ units.

3.Discuss key areas requiring organizational attention as WFP takes cash and vouchers programmes to scale, including:

• understanding the cost effectiveness of cash vs. vouchers vs. food aid;
• ensuring informed transfer modality choices;
• programme approval processes;
• the role of functional units (e.g. finance, IT, private sector, procurement, etc.);
• monitoring, evaluation & reporting;
• building staff capacity; and
• enhancing collaboration with external partners.