Digital Payments
Digital technology is transforming the way we respond to emergencies. Innovations range from how we identifying people eligible for assistance, to data collection for assessments and monitoring, to communication with crisis-affected communities. Digital payment systems, including mobile devices, electronic vouchers, and cards – when used appropriately – can deliver timelier, more secure, more cost effective, and inclusive assistance. But as the volume of data we collect, store and share about people grows, we must ensure that our data protection systems keep pace and that we understand and mitigate for the risks inherent in new technologies.
Featured Content
Podcast: Is informed consent possible in humanitarian CVA?
Podcast
Episode 2 of the CashCast tackles data responsibility with Amos Doornbos, Linda Raftree, James Eaton Lee and Ric Tighe
Consent and Ownership in the Shift to Digital Cash and Voucher Assistance
Blog Post
Part of committing to cash and voucher assistance (CVA) is committing to going digital and collecting data. While they are two different things, they are deeply intertwined. And while an organisation can ‘go digital’ without cash programmes, it’s nearly impossible to commit to cash programmes in the long term without going digital. Yes, it is true we’ve done cash and voucher programmes...
Latest
Digital Cash Transfers in Liberia. A case study from Save the Children’s Emergency Food Security Program (2015- 2016)
Report
Through its USAID-funded Emergency Food Security Program, Save the Children was the first organization to implement cash transfers through mobile money at scale in Liberia, where mobile money services are nascent. From liquidity management to incentivizing agents, the challenges, lessons, and...
Mobile Money in Somalia – Household Survey and Market Analysis
Report
Key findings from an assessment of mobile money in Somalia. Provides information about mobile money penetration; practicalities; usage; perceptions and the use of shillings versus dollars.
ELAN Humanitarian KYC Case Studies
Report
Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, also known as customer due diligence, are designed to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other related threats to the financial system. They refer to the ID checks that financial institutions perform to comply with national financial regulations....
Can E-Transfers Promote Financial Inclusion in Emergencies: A Case Study from Ethiopia
Report
The Electronic Cash Transfer Learning Action Network (ELAN) launched this research to build an evidence base around connecting emergency electronic transfer (e-transfer) recipients with additional financial
services. They also wanted to learn if, when, and how e-transfers can promote sustained uptake and...
The Financial Journey of Refugees Full Report
Report
This document details how refugees and migrants from the Middle East, South and Central Asia and East, West and North Africa finance their journeys and manage money along the way.
Review of the Common Cash Facility approach in Jordan
Report
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan has pioneered a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to the delivery of cash, known as the Common Cash Facility (CCF). The aim of the CCF is to provide humanitarian actors with direct and equal access to a common financial service...
Cash Delivery Mechanism Assessment Tool
Guidelines and Tools
In line with its commitment to institutionalise the use of Cash-Based Interventions (CBIs), the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released the Operational Guidance for Cash-Based Interventions in Displacement Settings (“the Guidelines”) dated 4 February 2015, to...
E-transfers Procurement Learning and Good Practices
Guidelines and Tools
Humanitarian agencies have increased their use of cash transfers and related distribution technologies. Yet, most rely largerly procurement and contracting processes designed for goods and professional services. An Elan Survey of humanitarian operations staff and e-transfers providers indicated several...
Enabling Digital Financial Services in Humanitarian Response: Four Priorities for Improving Payments
Guidelines and Tools
The humanitarian sector is increasingly turning to digital payments to distribute cash-based aid, but many efforts remain fragmented around custom built solutions that miss opportunities to build strong, enduring pathways to financial inclusion and resilience for crisis-affected populations. Few solutions...
Cash transfer platforms in humanitarian contexts
Report
This report is based on ten days of desk-based research prepared for the Australian Government that aims to respond to the following questions: What is the rationale for using multi-purpose cash transfers and single platforms? What is driving donor agency positions on these issues? What is the evidence...