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Monitoring and Evaluation

The flexible and multisectoral nature of cash presents unique challenges when it comes to monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of humanitarian responses. Agreeing and using common indicators will help to ensure we are working together to improve the quality of cash and voucher assistance (CVA).

Most M&E challenges, such as a lack of sufficient investment and capacities, are not specific to CVA. But those that are relate primarily to monitoring outcomes for unrestricted transfers. The flexibility of cash transfers can make it difficult to determine appropriate outcome indicators, as they may involve a combination of sector-specific and cross-cutting indicators. At the same time, there are limitations on gathering accurate data on how cash transfers are spent.

Grand Bargain signatories have committed to ensuring relevant M&E mechanisms are in place for cash, and increasing understanding of the costs, benefits, impacts and risks of cash relative to other modalities. Building on this, the GB cash workstream has action points including the development of common outcome indicators for multipurpose cash, and metrics for analysing value for money. Systematic value for money analysis has been limited by factors including a lack of agreed upon approaches, the need for quality outcome data, and the intensive nature of the analysis.

Current priorities

As part of the Grand Bargain cash commitments, the CALP Network has co-led (with USAID and CRS) the development of Multipurpose Cash Outcome Indicators. The draft for testing is currently available in English, French and Spanish via the library.

Latest

Bangladesh Cash Working Group: Lessons Learnt From Early Recovery CTPS For Flood Response

Report

The DeSHARI Consortium, NARRI Consortium, German Red Cross, WFP and bKash brought their learning from implementing 3-month-long Cash Transfer Programmings for early recovery for flood response in NW and
Hatiya. From the onset of disaster 13 agencies sought to coordinate under the Cash Working Group in...

January 2015

Electronic Cash Grants in Emergencies: Approaches and lessons learned

Report

Cash distributions in an emergency: A concept that seems so obvious today yet has only recently gained recognition within humanitarian response programming for its speed, efficiency and—above all—effectiveness.
This document provides a snapshot for humanitarian response peers on best practices,...

2015

Kit for Autonomous Cash transfer in Humanitarian Emergencies (KACHE)

Guidelines and Tools

The present document reports the development of the Kit for Autonomous Cash transfer in Humanitarian Emergencies (KACHE), built upon Red Rose ONE system© supported by the WFP’s Cooperating Partners’ Innovation Fund (CPIF). Firstly, it gives a brief description of the main features of the kit....

2015

Guidance Notes: Cash Transfers in Livelihoods Programming- West Africa

Guidelines and Tools

A growing acceptance of cash transfers as an inter-sectorial tool is accompanied by a better understanding of this approach and its potential to break the cycle of poverty, after much discussion on the role cash transfers have to play in building resilience. In the Sahel, food security experts have...

2015

Voucher and Fair Implementation Guide

Guidelines and Tools

Mercy Corps’ Voucher and Fair implementation Guide  provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for teams implementing cash, restricted cash, or commodity voucher programmes. Written for an internal audience, the Guide may also be useful for peer agencies.

2015

A Review of Evidence of Humanitarian Cash Transfer Programming in Urban Areas: Annexes

Report

Annexes to accompany the working paper ‘A review of evidence
of humanitarian cash transfer programming in urban areas”

2015

Kenya Drought Response Evaluation Report – Focus on Marsabit and Baringo Counties

Report

An evaluation of a drought response which involved school feeding, cash transfers and nutrition outreach activities.

2015

Addressing Vulnerability? Cash Transfer Programming and Protection Outcomes for Out-of-Camp Syrian Refugees

Report

This report explores key issues concerning vulnerability, targeting, and protection in cash transfer programming (CTP) by analyzing a Danish Refuge Council (DRC) project in southern Turkey. It is based on an ongoing “action research” collaboration between DRC and the Feinstein International Center...

2015

Cash Transfer Program in Northern Syria

Report

Humanitarian needs, both in Syria and neighbouring countries (Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq), have rapidly increased since the beginning of the conflict. The Aleppo governorate, as one of the county’s most populated areas with a total population of 4,670,000, has  suffered from the consequences...

2015

Philippines Haiyan Response – A multi-sectoral review of the use of market analysis and the design and implementation of CTPs

Report

Following Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines on November 8 2014, at least 45 aid agencies chose to implement Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) to assist the more than 16 million people affected. Cash transfers were a logical approach in a country with developed market systems, strong financial...

2015

Using Innovation And New Technologies to Improve Cash Transfer Programming (CTP)

Report

Experience and studies show that providing cash transfers to disaster-affected families empowers them to meet their diverse needs, provides a stimulus to the recovery of the local economy and is a cost effective way to deliver humanitarian assistance. The IFRC is committed to providing multi-sectoral...

2015

Voices and Views of Beneficiaries on Unconditional Cash Transfers – Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal and the Philippines

Report

Providing cash in humanitarian emergencies is expanding and the topic is well under discussion within the humanitarian sector with topics ranging from high-level consideration of cash as a tool to transform humanitarian aid, the significance of cash as a way to support beneficiary choice and dignity...

2015

Remittances to Syria: What works, where and how

Report

This study sought to understand remittance flows into Syria, and established that various Informal Value Transfer Systems (IVTS) are used, to the exclusion of the formal banking sector. Registered and unregistered hawala, courier services and family connections are used. Remittances have played an...

2015

EMMA Toolkit

Report

Download the publication file here EMMA is a set of tools (this toolkit) and guidance notes (the reference manual on CD-ROM). It encourages and assists front-line humanitarian staff in sudden-onset emergencies to better understand, accommodate, and make use of market systems. It does not offer a...

2015

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Cash-Based Food Assistance Projects: A case study and discussion paper of findings in Niger

Report

Despite recent and expanding literature on cost effectiveness and value for money, there is little by way of guidance for the implementation of cost-effectiveness analysis in humanitarian and development programming. This report distills findings from the literature on ex post cost-effectiveness analysis,...

2015

MARKit: Price monitoring, analysis and response kit

Guidelines and Tools

The Price Monitoring, Analysis and Response Kit (MARKit) was developed by representatives from the Local Regional Procurement (LRP) Learning Alliance to guide food assistance practitioners through the steps to monitor markets during the implementation of food assistance programs, and to ensure that...

2015

Cash in Emergencies Toolkit

Guidelines and Tools

Access Toolkit Here Cash transfer based programming (CTP) is an effective and flexible way to support people affected by emergencies, maintaining their dignity and choice, while fostering local economies. CTP includes all forms of cash and voucher-based assistance. The Cash in Emergencies Toolkit has been...

2015

Operational Guidelines for Cash-Based Interventions in Displacement Settings

Report

These operational guidelines support UNHCR and partner staff to determine if and when cash-based interventions (CBIs) are appropriate to meet the needs of refugees and other persons of concern and aids the design and implementation of effective programmes. It focuses on the needs of refugees, but can...

2015