Risk
The CALP Network’s State of the World’s Cash report found that the perception that CVA is riskier than other forms of aid was one of the main barriers to CVA being routinely used. This concern is linked to the growing emphasis from donors on anti-terrorism and money laundering, and shrinking budgets for humanitarian assistance. The CALP Network’s work under this theme aims to debunk myths, facilitate collaboration, and share learning to ensure that CVA is systematically and equally considered, based on evidence of actual risks across modalities.
Current priorities
A variety of organisations are currently working on CVA and risk. The CALP Network is working to identify synergies among actors, avoid duplication, and define joint priorities that can be better addressed collectively. Together with WFP, the CALP Network is co-leading the risk priority within the Grand Bargain workstream on cash.
Featured content
Podcast: Will risk aversion hold us back from realizing the potential of CVA?
Podcast
Episode 1 of the CashCast, exploring how attitudes to risk have impacted the use of CVA in the Middle East and North Africa region.
CVA and Risks: What happens in the field, stays in the field?
Blog Post
In October 2019 in Douala, Cameroon, the CALP Network facilitated a learning event exploring the risks to beneficiary protection in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). This closed-door workshop, held as part of series of meetings and webinars on theme of CVA and risk in different regions, convened 25 humanitarian workers from West and Central Africa representing local and international NGOs, UN...
Webinar: Data sharing in CVA: ethics, ownership and privacy
Event
Thematic lead
Latest
Delivering money: Cash transfer mechanisms in emergencies
Report
This report documents lessons learned in cash transfer programming in emergencies, with a particular focus on the practicalities of how to deliver money to beneficiaries. It provides guidance for project managers needing to make choices about how to efficiently and effectively deliver cash, and explores...
Cash transfers in emergencies: A practical field guide
Guidelines and Tools
A practical and user-friendly field guide for using cash to meet the needs of older people. This guide covers deciding if cash is appropriate, conducting initial assessments and market analysis, identifying beneficiaries and amounts, preparing the community and implementing cash transfers. The purpose of...
Guidelines for cash interventions in Somalia
Guidelines and Tools
These guidelines are intended for all agencies operating in Somalia to represent a common approach to cash transfer programming for food security and livelihood activities in Somalia. The guidelines outline the minimum acceptable standards for cash interventions and provide the justification for...
Cash For Work: A Contribution to the International Debate based on Lessons Learnt in Northern Afghanistan
Case Study
The purpose of this study was to document learning from BMZ finance cash for work (CFW) projects implemented by GTZ in Afghanistan as a contribution to international debates about cash transfer approaches. The operations of the GTZ CFW scheme in Northern Afghanistan are financed by the German Federal...
Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA)
Report
This paper outlines the importance and rationale for agencies to undertake a “response analysis” before choosing an appropriate programme delivery mechanism to a humanitarian situation. The Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA) framework is introduced. This provides a...
The use of cash and vouchers in humanitarian crises: DG ECHO funding guidelines
Guidelines and Tools
A brief guide to assist programme staff in writing funding proposals for cash-based interventions. A humanitarian guidance note about cash transfer programming is also available.
Niger: Food Security and Safety Nets
Case Study
From the perspective of social protection, this study is designed to synthesize considerable existing analysis, review food and nutrition security policies and programs in Niger, and provide an action plan for strengthening the existing system and developing an effective food security and safety net...
Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis
Report
This paper outlines the importance and rationale for agencies to undertake a “response analysis” before choosing an appropriate programme delivery mechanism to a humanitarian situation. The Market Information and Food Insecurity Response Analysis (MIFIRA) framework is introduced. This provides a...
Innovations in International Humanitarian Action
Report
This document forms the third chapter of ALNAP’s 8th Review of Humanitarian Action, for more information and access to other chapters, please click here. Critics of humanitarian aid, many from within the sector, complain that humanitarian evaluations and other learning exercises repeatedly highlight...
Cash Transfers through Mobile Phones: An Innovative Emergency Response in Kenya
Case Study
Kenya was the first country in the world to use mobile phones for cash transfers; through a service called M-PESA, developed by Safaricom Limited. Concern Worldwide has pioneered the use of M-PESA for
emergency cash transfers in Kenya. This paper highlights Concern’s experience, which shows that despite...
Cash transfers in emergencies: A synthesis of World Vision’s experience and learning
Report
This HPG study report, commissioned by World Vision, looks at the shifting view towards cash programming by the humanitarian community, and focuses on the specific challenges and needs which World Vision would have to address when considering the use of cash in emergencies. A general background of cash...
Beneficiary perceptions of corruption in humanitarian assistance: A Sri Lanka case study
Case Study
This case study, based on a number of chosen villages in Sri Lanka, examines the views of beneficiaries on corruption in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It begins by outlining some of the corruption risks that agencies may face during emergency responses, particularly in conflict-affected...
Cash Transfers for Disaster Risk Reduction in Niger: A Feasibility Study
Case Study
This HPG study report, commissioned by CARE, examines the appropriateness, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of cash transfer programming as part of a disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy in Niger. It gives a general livelihood context of Niger and then looks at the feasibility and appropriateness,...
Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Assistance
Report
This report by Transparency International describes the research on the problem of corruption in humanitarian assistance, based on evidence from seven major international NGOs. It does not try to assess the degree of corruption in any one agency, or country, rather it seeks to document perceptions of...
Cash transfers in Sierra Leone: Appropriate, affordable and feasible?
Case Study
This paper is one of a series of outputs from ODI’s research study (2006–09) “Cash Transfers and their Role in Social Protection”. The study aims to compare cash with other forms of transfers, identifying where cash transfers may be preferable, the preconditions for cash transfers to work well,...
Implementing cash-based interventions: A guideline for aid workers
Guidelines and Tools
This is a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of cash-based interventions in the field, covering cash grants, vouchers, and labour-based interventions (cash for work). It also includes practical templates including examples of questionnaires, market surveys, beneficiary cards, voucher formats...
Guide to Cash-for-Work Programming
Guidelines and Tools
Cash-for-Work is a short-term intervention used by humanitarian assistance organizations to provide temporary employment in public projects (such as repairing roads, clearing debris or re-building infrastructure) to the most vulnerable segments of a population. The methodology is relatively new, but its...
Guidelines for cash transfer programming
Guidelines and Tools
A practical guide, including guidance sheets and a section on practical tools. Building on the broad range of cash experiences within the Movement and in the humanitarian sector, these guidelines provide practical, step-by-step support to the design and implementation of cash programmes.
Cash Workbook: A Practical User’s Guide for the Preparation and Implementation of Cash Projects
Guidelines and Tools
This workbook is a tool that guides managers through the project cycle of managing a cash transfer programme including administrative and database setup, and project management systems and procedures.
Learning from cash responses to the tsunami: Issue paper 3: Setting the value
Report
This is the third of six issue papers which form part of a project to document learning around cash-based responses to the Indian Ocean tsunami. The project was funded by the British Red Cross, Save the Children UK, Oxfam GB, Mercy Corps and Concern Worldwide. A key question in the design of cash transfer...