What we do
The CaLP provides leadership, expertise and evidence to support cash transfer programming in humanitarian situations.
With an outreach to over 1,000 practitioners through trainings and online forums in 2011, and the presence of cash coordination groups in several countries, CaLP is working to mainstream tools and trainings, gather learning and research, and advocate for coherent approaches on a national and global level.
In the past two years the CaLP has also played a key role in providing emergency technical support and coordination to humanitarian actors implementing cash-based programming in response to the Haiti earthquake, the Pakistan floods, Ivory Coast post-election violence and the Horn and East Africa drought crisis.
Furthermore, the CaLP works in 4 focus countries (Niger, Zimbabwe, Philippines, and Kenya) to support the mainstreaming of the use of cash and voucher transfers in these disaster prone countries.
What is Cash Transfer Programming?
Around the world, more and more people live in a market-based economy, relying on markets to meet some or all of their household needs. In many disasters or emergencies, local market systems are still able to function within a short time. In these circumstances, relief organisations can help affected people to meet their needs by linking them to local markets, providing them with money or with coupons that enable them to buy what they need. Under the right conditions, this type of aid has the potential to deliver timely and cost-effective assistance to disaster affected populations, while at the same time supporting the local economy.
Cash transfer programming generally falls under one of three types of aid:
- Cash grants – providing people with money, with which they can buy what they need
- Vouchers – giving people coupons that can be exchanged for goods or services at particular shops
- Cash for Work – paying people to work, usually on urgent public works, community assets, or projects that help to meet the needs of disaster affected populations
Why cash transfers and vouchers?
Cash transfer programming can only work when local markets are functioning and able to meet the demand generated. When this is the case, cash-based interventions deliver aid in a way that works with local markets and helps to stimulate economic recovery. Cash transfer programmes can also help to “kick-start” the recovery process by encouraging investment in livelihoods or small enterprise. By giving people the freedom to choose what they need, cash based approaches also offer greater flexibility – and dignity – than standard “one size fits all” aid packages.
Cash transfers can also be effectively used in slow-onset or disaster-prone contexts to support vulnerable people and communities, and increase their preparedness and resilience to mitigate the impact of future crises.
Quick Links
Learning Events & Conferences
CaLP 4th Global Learning Event (Bangkok, Thailand, 16-17 Feb 2011)
CaLP 5th Global Learning Event (Nairobi, Kenya, 17-18 Nov 2011)
Cash & Risk Conference (Copenhagen, 4-5 Dec 2011)
Technical Working Groups
