The State of the World's Cash 2020

Last updated
The State of the World's Cash 2020
The State of the World's Cash 2020 cover photo.png
AuthorsJose Jodar
Anna Kondakhchyan
Ruth McCormack
Karen Peachey
Laura Phelps
Gaby Smith
LanguageEnglish
Subject Cash and Voucher Assistance
GenreNon-fiction
Published2020
Publisher CALP Network
Pages181

The State of the World's Cash 2020 [1] is a publication by CALP Network that reports on the use of cash and voucher assistance in humanitarian aid.

Contents

It was written by Jose Jodar, Anna Kondakhchyan, Ruth McCormack, Karen Peachey, Laura Phelps and Gaby Smith. [2]

Background

The report follows on from "The State of the World's Cash Report", a seminal piece published by CALP in 2018. [3]

The report reflects on progress made against global policy commitments made by the Grand Bargain, ECHO's 10 Principles, [4] the High Level Panel on Cash [5] and the World Bank's Strategic Note on Cash Transfers in Humanitarian Contexts among others. [6] These and other policy commitments are summarised in the Global Framework for Action: A Consolidated Summary of Commitments for Cash Transfer Programming [7] which provides the overall structure to the State of the World's Cash Report with additional chapters to reflect new trends and issues.

This document is widely cited and used both by policy makers and practitioners. It is a source referenced in the annual review of progress against Grand Bargain commitments [8] [9] and in multiple other authoritative research, policy and guidance reports. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Synopsis

It documents how the use of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in humanitarian aid has doubled from US$2.8 billion in 2016, to $5.6 billion in 2019, representing 17.9% of spending on humanitarian assistance. Chapter by chapter it examines progress made on priority issues and includes recommendations for humanitarian policy makers and practitioners.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extreme poverty</span> Condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs

Extreme poverty is the most severe type of poverty, defined by the United Nations (UN) as "a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services". Historically, other definitions have been proposed within the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Food Programme</span> Food-assistance branch of the United Nations

The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries. As of 2021, it supported over 128 million people across more than 120 countries and territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department for International Development</span> Former department of the UK Government

The Department for International Development (DFID) was a department of HM Government responsible for administering foreign aid from 1997 to 2020. The goal of the department was "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". DFID was headed by the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for International Development. The position was last held between 13 February 2020 and the department's abolishment on 2 September 2020 by Anne-Marie Trevelyan. In a 2010 report by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), DFID was described as "an international development leader in times of global crisis". The UK aid logo is often used to publicly acknowledge DFID's development programmes are funded by UK taxpayers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian aid</span> Material or logistical assistance for people in need

Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines. Humanitarian relief efforts are provided for humanitarian purposes and include natural disasters and human-made disasters. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity. It may, therefore, be distinguished from development aid, which seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency. There is a debate on linking humanitarian aid and development efforts, which was reinforced by the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. However, the conflation is viewed critically by practitioners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Natsios</span> American politician (born 1949)

Andrew S. Natsios is an American public servant and Republican politician from Massachusetts, who served in a number of positions in the administrations of Governor Paul Cellucci and President of the United States George W. Bush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium Development Goals</span> Eight international development goals for the year 2015 by the United Nations

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. These were based on the OECD DAC International Development Goals agreed by Development Ministers in the "Shaping the 21st Century Strategy". The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) succeeded the MDGs in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations</span>

The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid and for civil protection. It aims to save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Since September 2019, Janez Lenarčič is serving as Commissioner for Crisis Management in the Von der Leyen Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aid</span> Voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another

In international relations, aid is – from the perspective of governments – a voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another.

In different administrative and organizational forms, the Food for Peace program of the United States has provided food assistance around the world for more than 60 years. Approximately 3 billion people in 150 countries have benefited directly from U.S. food assistance. The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the U.S. Government's largest provider of overseas food assistance. The food assistance programming is funded primarily through the Food for Peace Act. The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance also receives International Disaster Assistance Funds through the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) that can be used in emergency settings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Ethiopia–United States relations are bilateral relations between Ethiopia and the United States. Ethiopia is a strategic partner of the United States in the Global War on Terrorism. The United States is the largest donor to Ethiopia: in 2008 U.S. foreign aid to Ethiopia totaled US$969 million, in 2009 US$916 million, with 2010 estimated at US$513 million and US$586 million requested for 2011. U.S. development assistance to Ethiopia is focused on reducing poverty and supporting economic development emphasizes economic, governance, and social sector policy reforms. Some military training funds, including training in such issues as the laws of war and observance of human rights, also are provided.

A cash transfer is a direct transfer payment of money to an eligible person. Cash transfers are either unconditional cash transfers or conditional cash transfers. They may be provided by organisations funded by private donors, or a local or regional government.

Unconditional cash transfer (UCT) programs are philanthropic programs aim to reduce poverty by providing financial welfare without any conditions upon the receivers' actions. This differentiates them from conditional cash transfers where the government only transfers the money to persons who meet certain criteria. Unconditional cash transfers have developed on the premise that giving cash to citizens allows them to have autonomy over their own lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Humanitarian Summit</span> 2016 meeting

The United Nations World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23 and 24, 2016. The summit was an initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and was organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) sets out nine commitments for humanitarian and development actors to measure and improve the quality and effectiveness of their assistance. The CHS places communities and people affected by crisis at the centre of humanitarian action. Humanitarian organisations may use it as a voluntary code with which to align their own internal procedures. It can also be used as a basis for verification of performance.

Ben Ramalingam is a British researcher, strategist, innovator and author, currently Director of Strategy at British Red Cross, senior research associate at the Overseas Development Institute Politics and Governance programme and advisor to the OECD Development Assistance Committee on innovation investments for development, humanitarian and human rights issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cash and Voucher Assistance</span> Form of humanitarian assistance

Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is an umbrella term for humanitarian aid programs that provide cash, or vouchers exchangeable for goods and services, directly to recipients. CVA represents an increasingly significant modality or tool in providing aid, responding to a number of factors including movement from a charity-based to a rights-based approach to aid; the increased need for cost efficiency responding to downwards trends in aid funding; and a realisation of the cost effectiveness of CVA in comparison with prior approaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CALP Network</span> Nonprofit humanitarian organisation

The CALP Network is an organisation originating in 2005 and officially launched in 2009 as The Cash Learning Partnership, with the objectives of increasing the scale and quality of Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) employed by humanitarian agencies around the world to deliver aid. CVA encompasses aid delivered as cash, or vouchers exchangeable for goods and services, directly to recipients, and represents an increasingly significant aid modality amounting to 17.9% of total international humanitarian assistance expenditure in 2019. CALP works to build CVA capacity within aid organisations, especially by providing training and e-learning; coordinates the use of CVA by agencies; compiles and shares knowledge and research; and contributes to the development of policy environments encompassing CVA.

<i>Grand Bargain</i> (humanitarian reform) Global agreement on humanitarian funding reform

The Grand Bargain: Agenda for Humanity, usually called the Grand Bargain, is an agreement to reform the delivery of humanitarian aid, that was struck at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016. The agreement contains 51 specific commitments, grouped into ten focus areas, with activity targets to be completed by January 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network for Empowered Aid Response</span> Network of local humanitarian organisations

The Network for Empowered Aid Response, often called the NEAR Network, is a group of humanitarian civil society organisations based in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Degan Ali is the Somali-American humanitarian consultant and the executive director of Adeso.

References

  1. "The State of the World's Cash Report". The CALP Network. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  2. The State of the World's Cash Report: Cash and Voucher Assistance in Humanitarian Aid. The Cash Learning Partnership. May 2020. S2CID   211095497.
  3. "The State of the World's Cash II Report: Global Launch | Food Security and Nutrition Network". www.fsnnetwork.org. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  4. 10 COMMON PRINCIPLES FOR MULTI-PURPOSE CASH-BASED ASSISTANCE TO RESPOND TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS. EU. March 2015.
  5. "High level panel on humanitarian cash transfers". ODI: Think change. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  6. Strategic Note: Cash Transfers in Humanitarian Contexts. World Bank. June 2016.
  7. GLOBAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION: A Consolidated Summary of Commitments for Cash Transfer Programming. CALP Network. FEB 2017.
  8.  : Metcalfe-Hough, V., Fenton, W., Willitts-King, B. and Spencer, A. (2021) The Grand Bargain at five years: an independent review. HPG commissioned report. London: ODI (https://odi.org/en/publications/the-grand-bargain-at-five-years-an-independent-review)
  9. Report__Grand_Bargain_annual_independent_report_2020.
  10. Lyles, Emily; Arhem, Jakob; El Khoury, Ghada; Trujillo, Antonio; Spiegel, Paul; Burton, Ann; Doocy, Shannon (2021-06-19). "Multi-purpose cash transfers and health among vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon: a prospective cohort study". BMC Public Health. 21 (1): 1176. doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11196-8. ISSN   1471-2458. PMC   8214292 . PMID   34147066.
  11. Ussher, Leanne; Ebert, Laura; Gómez, Georgina M.; Ruddick, William O. (2021-11-18). "Complementary Currencies for Humanitarian Aid". Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 14 (11): 557. doi: 10.3390/jrfm14110557 . ISSN   1911-8074.
  12. State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money. GSM Association. 2021
  13. Pusterla, Francesca; Pusterla, Elia (2020-02-28), "Humanitarian Aid and the European Union", Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1133, ISBN   978-0-19-022863-7 , retrieved 2022-04-14
  14. FOCUS ON THE FRONTLINES: How the Grand Bargain can deliver on its promise to improve humanitarian aid. International Rescue Committee.
  15. Lyles, E., Arhem, J., El Khoury, G., Trujillo, A., Spiegel, P., Burton, A., & Doocy, S. (2021). Multi-purpose cash transfers and health among vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon: a prospective cohort study. BMC public health, 21(1), 1176. doi : 10.1186/s12889-021-11196-8