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...
E-Transfers and operationalizing beneficiary data protection
Course
This two hour course will provide humanitarian practitioners with the necessary steps to operationalize the protection of beneficiary data in programmes using electronic transfers, or e-transfers.
Latest
E-Payments in Uganda with Limited Infrastructure
Report
The 2005 Uganda Chronic Poverty Report argued that households in chronic poverty show a range of deficits that include deficient consumption and malnutrition, limited access to health and education, and limited voice and influence. For many of these households social exclusion reinforces their...
An Innovative way of Humanitarian Assistance using Mobile Money Transfer in Bangladesh
Presentation
A video detailing Oxfam’s use of mobile money transfer in Bangladesh.
ICT/mobile Phone Technology: A shift in the right direction
Blog Post
Thirteen African nations came together for the AgriKnowledge Share Fair in Addis Ababa at the end of October 2012 to learn about approaches for quicker and more efficient humanitarian response. Government representatives, researchers, UN agencies and NGOs gathered for a three day symposium on best...
Guidelines: How to use Hawala in Somalia
Guidelines and Tools
Money transfer companies, also known as Hawala, are an increasingly popular partner chosen by humanitarian agencies to distribute cash in Somalia. This brief will explain what Hawala are, how they operate, and provide some brief guidelines on how agencies can partner with them to deliver cash transfers in...
MPESA Project Analysis: Exploring the use of cash transfers using cell phones in pastoral areas
Report
Safaricom Limited, a mobile network operator in Kenya, launched a mobile money transfer system called M-PESA in 2007. This system allows users to send or receive money on their Safaricom SIM card. Télécoms sans Frontières and Vétérinaires sans Frontières – Germany decided to work in partnership on...
Pension Watch Briefing #8: Electronic payment for cash transfer programmes
Policy paper
There is growing interest in the use of electronic payment (e-payment) systems in cash transfer programmes. When cash is transferred to beneficiaries through e-payment technologies such as mobile phone accounts or smartcards, there is potential to cut costs and reduce corruption compared with physical...
Mobile Technology in Emergencies
Policy paper
Mobile phones are increasingly accessible to those affected by crisis and can play a strategic role in the delivery of rapid, cost-effective, scalable humanitarian assistance. However, the full potential of mobile phones to work as transformative tools in emergency response has not yet been realised. This...
Social Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion: Evidence from four countries
Report
This focus note from CGAP looks at social cash transfers and how this is being used to improve financial inclusion. To do so they look at examples from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa. The focus note compares the various payment approaches, how these interlink with the respective government...
New Technologies in Cash Transfer Programming and Humanitarian Assistance
Report
This study was commissioned by the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) in 2011, to review the current use of new technology in humanitarian cash and voucher programming and the broader implications for humanitarian practice. The research was undertaken to explore (i) preconditions for the use of...
New Technologies in Cash Transfer Programming and Humanitarian Assistance – Executive Summary
Report
This is the executive summary of CaLP’s research on new technologies in cash transfer programming and humanitarian assistance. For more, please see the full report.