Ready or not? Emergency cash transfers at scale

Whilst there is significant experience of implementing cash transfer programmes (CTP) in emergencies this has seldom been at a scale comparable to in-kind responses. A number of critical gaps and blockages standing in the way of scaled up programming in the wake of a disaster have been identified through this study, with recommendations made as to how these might be addressed.

The study research is based on key lines of enquiry assessing the extent of preparedness of humanitarian actors in the following four fundamental areas:

• Appropriate procedures, systems and guidelines to facilitate speedy and large scale cash and voucher transfer programming.
• Technical capacity to assess needs, design appropriate programmes, implement and monitor them.
• Contingency planning including relevant analysis and prepositioning activities.
• Coordination with other actors, particularly the private sector.

This research was commissioned by the Cash Learning Partnership (the CALP Network), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The CALP Network is supported with funds from the European Commission’s Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) and Visa Inc.