Multipurpose Cash Assistance
Multipurpose Cash (MPC) are unrestricted cash transfers that people affected by crises can use to cover their basic needs. By its nature, MPC is the assistance modality which offers people a maximum degree of choice, flexibility and dignity. There is also growing evidence that it is more cost-efficient and cost-effective to meet multiple needs.
But this requires new ways of collaborating between humanitarian actors, at all stages of the program cycle, and across sectors. While solid tools exist to support collaboration, they have not been widely adopted and MPC is still used in an ad-hoc way. Challenges remain to be addressed if we are to successfully fit MPC into the humanitarian system.
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Multipurpose cash outcome indicators and guidance
Guidelines and Tools
The indicators in this document, developed by the Grand Bargain Cash Workstream, focus on the primary objectives of humanitarian Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPC), and the outcomes to which MPC can most strongly contribute in a given context.
Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) Decision Making Tools
Guidelines and Tools
Update: This publication was revised in 2022. Please read the revised publication here.
The purpose of this tipsheet is to accompany practitioners and decision makers through key stages in the process of calculating an MEB to: (a)
identify what is the most appropriate path to take in relation to their
particular context, identified objective, existing capacities and available
resources; and...
Operational Guidance and Toolkit for Multipurpose Cash Grants
Guidelines and Tools
This operational guidance and toolkit brings together worldwide expertise on cash-based interventions (CBIs). It provides comprehensive and practical guidance for humanitarian actors to assess the feasibility, conceptualise the design and structure the implementation of MPGs. The guidance focuses on MPGs whose primary objective is to meet basic needs as defined by affected people...
Definition of Minimum Expenditure Baskets (MEB) in West Africa
Report
Throughout 2017, five countries in West Africa have worked collectively to define minimum expenditure baskets, in order to better capture the contribution that humanitarian assistance is making to address the basic needs of affected populations, and improve the impact of assistance. This heavy process raises technical and coordination challenges. The CALP Network, with support from USAID /...
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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.
Cash Emergency Preparedness (CEP) Assessment: Myanmar
Policy paper
Cash transfer programming (CTP) in emergencies is not new in Myanmar, with the first examples going back at least to Cyclone Nargis in 2009. CTP has also been used in humanitarian settings such as Kachin State. However, CTP is not yet being widely used for the current conflict context in Rakhine State due...
Impact Evaluation of Cash and Food Transfers for the Seasonal Emergency Safety Net in Hajjah and Ibb Governorates, Yemen Endline Report
Report
This report is the final impact evaluation of the World Food Programme’s Cash and Food transfer program in Yemen. The program operated in Hajjah and Ibb governorates within the larger Emergency Safety Net (ESN), which provides assistance to qualifying households in rural Yemen. The report details the...
Enhancing WFP’s Capacity and Experience to Design, Implement, Monitor, and Evaluate Vouchers and Cash Transfer Programmes: Study summary
Report
With support from the Government of Spain, and in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) evaluated four pilot projects to assess the comparative performance of cash transfers, food payments, and vouchers on household food...
Livelihood Coping and Recovery from Disaster: The case of coastal Bangladesh
Report
Bangladesh has a long history of coping with and recovery from disasters. Although climate extremes are increasingly taking huge tolls especially in the southwestern part of the country, households are resisting the negative outcomes of these events eventually. This research explores the livelihood...
Nepal USAID-BEST Analysis
Report
During the months of July-August 2013, the Bellmon Estimation Studies for Title II (USAID-BEST) team undertook a study of the current state of agricultural markets in Nepal to inform USAID food assistance programming decisions. This USAID-BEST Analysis provides an overview of local markets,...
Cash Transfer Programming Toolkit
Guidelines and Tools
The Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) Toolkit is a basic guide to cash transfer programming in emergency response and early recovery settings. The publication is based upon best practiced and practical experience from Mercy Corps programmes. The Toolkit provides general guidance for CTP, as well as...
Markets dynamics and financial services in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
Guidelines and Tools
The Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) team of WFP recently finalised a market study on the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya. The study explores market dynamics and financial service access for pastoral communities. This executive summary shortly presents the findings of this study. The...
Cash Preparedness in Senegal: Cash Transfer Mechanisms
Report
Recognizing the growing importance of cash-based responses in humanitarian interventions and building on its own experience of implementing cash transfer programs through local partner organizations in Senegal in 2010 and 2012, Oxfam America sought to hire a consultant to determine the most feasible...
Technical Assessment of the Kenya National Safety Net Program for Results
Report
One of the priorities outlined in the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) in Kenya, is the government’s ambition to enhance social assistance by developing the necessary institutions and strengthening operational systems while expanding the coverage of such programmes. To help realise this policy...