The impact of cash transfers on resilience A multi-country study

Provision of humanitarian aid in the form of cash transfers has gained significant momentum over the past few years. Research and evidence on certain aspects of cash transfer programmes (CTP) has been well documented, particularly regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of cash.

It is also well recognised that cash-based responses have the potential to support longer-term gains beyond consumption; however, it is less clear which aspects of resilience they support and how CTPs can best complement other forms of programming in more complex interventions to build longer-term resilience. Based on this, CARE International UK commissioned this study, using CARE International UK’s own programme and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data, to analyse and test the extent to which receipt of cash contributes to resilience.

The study is based on experiences and data from three country programmes where CARE International UK delivered cash transfers: Zimbabwe, Niger and Ethiopia. However, due to data availability, analysis on Ethiopia in this study is limited. The CTPs analysed in Niger and Ethiopia were conditional, unrestricted cash (Cash for Work – CfW) and were part of a wider multi-sectoral programme which included livelihoods, governance and
resilience-building support. The CTP in Zimbabwe was multi-purpose, unconditional cash.