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Operational Models

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) can be delivered to people in crises more efficiently, effectively, and with more accountability, if responding agencies work together. But we need to generate evidence around which operational models work best for collaboration in different contexts.

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:

  1. What operational models are available to agencies implementing CVA?
  2. How do different models improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of CVA in different contexts?
  3. 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.

Latest

Cash Transfers in Emergencies Good Practice Review: Presentation

Presentation

Powerpoint presentation on the then-forthcoming Good Practice Review on cash transfer programming in emergencies.

2011

Watan Card Project – Pakistan National Disaster Relief Program

Presentation

Presentation to the CALP Network 4th Global Learning Event (Bangkok, February 2011) from the National Disaster Management Authority of the Government of Pakistan.  The presentation reviews the WATAN card cash transfer programme implemented by the Government to transfer money to flood affected people. The...

2011

Financial Considerations in Cash Transfer Programming

Presentation

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION • Finance considerations and challenges in CTP • Delivery Mechanisms used in the Flood Response. • Oxfam’s Experience with Order Cheques – Challenges and Innovation. • Delivery Mechanism’s – the selection dilemma.

2011

Oxfam Programme Quality Standards: Cash transfer programmes (CTPs)

Guidelines and Tools

Through its Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods (EFSVL) work, Oxfam aims to meet immediate food needs and protect livelihoods, whilst contributing to the longer term economic recovery of disaster affected populations and increasing their resilience to future shocks. Oxfam believes that...

2011

Minimum Economic Recovery Standards

Guidelines and Tools

The Minimum Economic Recovery Standards articulate the minimum level of technical and other assistance to be provided in promoting the recovery of economies and livelihoods affected by crisis.

2010

Innovations in International Humanitarian Action

Report

This document forms the third chapter of ALNAP’s 8th Review of Humanitarian Action, for more information and access to other chapters, please click here. Critics of humanitarian aid, many from within the sector, complain that humanitarian evaluations and other learning exercises repeatedly highlight...

2009

Case Study of the Poultry and Grape/Raisin subsectors in Afghanistan: Guided case study in value chain development for conflict-affected environments

Report

Is the value chain approach effective for restoring market-based economic activity in a severely affected post-conflict environment?. The goal of this study is to gather empirical evidence to  answer this question, looking at the role of the value chain approach in the work of USAID’s Rebuilding...

2008

Practitioners’ Guide to the Household Economy Approach

Guidelines and Tools

This guide is aimed at those carrying out household economy approach (HEA) assessments, and is intended to serve as both a refresher guide for experienced practitioners and a set of reference reading materials to accompany formal trainings for new practitioners. The Practitioners’ Guide is presented as...

2008

Guide to Cash-for-Work Programming

Guidelines and Tools

Cash-for-Work is a short-term intervention used by humanitarian assistance organizations to provide temporary employment in public projects (such as repairing roads, clearing debris or re-building infrastructure) to the most vulnerable segments of a population. The methodology is relatively new, but its...

2007