Operational Models
The CALP Network’s State of the World’s Cash Report identifies different types of operational model, including consortia and alliances, shared cash delivery mechanisms, single agency cash delivery, and integration of systems.
“The overall structure through which agencies work jointly…to deliver cash and voucher programming…in situation response and analysis, program design and implementation.”
Our working definition of an operational model.
Scaling up CVA offers opportunities to transform how humanitarian aid is delivered. It has implications for the roles of different agencies within various operational models, and the potential for models to link to social protection systems. It will also impact the nature of partnerships with financial service and technology providers, and how different models interact with other forms of assistance, beyond cash.
Current priorities
Since late 2016, the CALP Network has been coordinating a learning agenda to help answer these questions:
- What operational models are available to agencies implementing CVA?
- How do different models improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of CVA in different contexts?
- Which operational models are most appropriate in which contexts?
We will continue to collate and disseminate the evidence base for operational models.
We are also a partner in the Cash Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Organizational Network (CAMEALEON) consortium, led by Norwegian Refugee Council, which is responsible for independent monitoring and evaluation of WFP’s Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) in Lebanon. This includes research and analysis regarding value for money and accountability in the operational model.
Featured content
Operational Models: Accountability to affected people
Webinar
MEAL in Emerging Operational Models
Webinar
CTP Operational Models Analytical Framework
Guidelines and Tools
The State of the World’s Cash Report launched by the CALP Network in February 2018 highlights trends in the uptake of various operational models for the delivery of cash at scale in humanitarian response. Current decision making on the choice between these various operational models is highly influenced by context, and by the policies and approaches of donor agencies. Decision making on...
Thematic lead
Latest
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Mercy Corps Tipsheet: COVID-19 and CVA
Guidelines and Tools
This tipsheet serves as guidance to help field teams think through different ways to mitigate the spread and impact of Covid-19 through ongoing cash and voucher assistance (CVA), inform the adaption of CVA programming in the context of Covid-19, and promote sensitivity to changing market dynamics and...
Plan International: COVID-19 Adaptations to Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Interventions
Guidelines and Tools
The aim of this technical guidance is to support the team in designing and implementing Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) programmes in both development and humanitarian settings to adapt interventions in response to the Covid19 outbreak, in order to:
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Cash Week 2019: How cash is driving change across the system
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Cash Week 2019 aimed to provide a space to reflect, learn, and look ahead, to ensure quality in our use of CVA at scale. The CALP team reflects on the key takeaways from the events that took place around the world, and what they mean for actors within and beyond the humanitarian sector.
Mapping of CWGs, CCS and CCD Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean
Guidelines and Tools
This map was developed with information captured at The Cash Learning Partnership workshop that took place in Panama City, Panama on 21 November 2019, the activity had the aim to map cash and voucher assistance coordination structures in the region.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Cash Feasibility and Delivery Mechanism Tools
Guidelines and Tools
A series of tools to aid assessment of feasibility and potential delivery mechanisms for delivering aid via Cash Transfer Programming (CTP)
Cash Week 2019: Collaborating for quality, today and tomorrow
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Cash Week 2019 provided a space to reflect, learn, and look ahead, to ensure quality in our use of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) at scale. An expanded agenda saw events taking place globally throughout November and December.
Operational Models: Accountability to affected people
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MEAL in Emerging Operational Models
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Operations Manual: Shock Responsive Social Protection Pilot
Guidelines and Tools
The pilot is a test of the program design. The main objective of the pilot is to test and refine the program design, operational processes and data management systems in order to inform a decision of whether and how to scale-up.
Looking Back and Looking Forward: Somalia Drought Response: Cash and Voucher Assistance
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This report summarizes the discussions that took place during a one-day learning event on 11th June 2019. The event brought together 27 people from national and international NGOs, the UN, and donors to discuss progress, reflect on cash and voucher (CVA) assistance in Somalia and identify priorities for...
3rd Grand Bargain Cash Work Stream Workshop – Co-Conveners’ Report
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The third Grand Bargain (GB) Cash work stream Workshop was held at WFP Headquarters in Rome on 16th-17th May 2019, hosted by WFP and DFID. Over 85 participants attended the workshop, representing 60 donor and humanitarian organisations and multilateral agencies, and including representatives from the...
Consultation on Cash and Voucher Assistance to the Main Spanish NGOs Funded by Aecid – Executive Summary
Report
This executive report summarizes the results obtained from a study of the cash and voucher assistance (CVA) practices of eight Spanish NGOs in the field of humanitarian assistance. You can read the full report in Spanish here.
Safer Cash Toolkit (English)
Guidelines and Tools
The Safer Cash Toolkit, funded by USAID, is designed to capture the minimum amount of protection-related information in emergency settings to ensure that organizations can make informed decisions on how to design, implement and adjust CVA programs at the field level to prevent and minimize harm. The Safer...
Analysis of social and power dynamics of stakeholders for the implementation of multi-year MultiPurpose Cash Transfers in North Mali
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Six INGOs (Hunger Against Action, Danish Refugee Council, Handicap International, Oxfam, Solidarités International and International Rescue Committee) have been implementing a MultiPurpose Cash Transfers programme in Mali; the second phase of this social safety net intervention targets the communes the...
Cash for Shelter in Kenya – A Field Experience
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A study of a cash for shelter project in Kalobeyei that highlights how UNHCR uses cash assistance to help the refugees to transition to more durable solutions, in this case, integration with the host community. The project presents a paradigm shift from the traditional refugee camp planning process.
How Cash and Food Transfers and Asset Creation Can Contribute to Women’s Empowerment: Learning from Niger, Kenya and Zimbabwe
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From ‘Collected Papers on Gender and Cash Transfer Programmes in Humanitarian Contexts’. Existing gender inequalities mean that disasters and conflicts impact women, men, girls and boys differently. Cash based assistance is one of the most significant developments in humanitarian assistance in recent...
Emergency Response Capacity (ERC) Consortium – Nigeria: Building an evidence base on operational models for the delivery of CTP
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This case study aims to review and map out how aspects of the Enhanced Response Capacity (ERC) consortium model have influenced key drivers of quality (effectiveness, efficiency and accountability) in the consortium’s Nigeria pilot. Formed at the global level in 2015, the ERC Consortium is comprised of...
Seven Steps to Scaling Cash Relief: Driving Outcomes and Efficiency
Guidelines and Tools
As we approach the mid-point of our five-year strategy, this briefing explores the way in which the IRC has embraced cash relief programming and is seeking to drive efficiencies and maximise impact. It defines seven steps that the IRC has taken to scale cash relief. It goes on to argue that...
Greece Cash Alliance: Building an Evidence Base on Operational Models for the Delivery Of CTP
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The primary aim of this case study is to map out aspects of the Greece Cash Alliance (GCA) operational model influencing key drivers of quality (effectiveness, efficiency and accountability) in the delivery of multipurpose cash grants (MPGs). The GCA was launched in April 2017 with funding from ECHO, in...