Delivering Money: Cash Transfer Mechanisms in Emergencies

There is growing use of the provision of cash
as a mechanism to provide relief to people after
disasters, on the part of international aid agencies
and governments. The banking industry is also
undergoing rapid changes, with new technologies
providing different options for making payments
and delivering banking services.
The use of cash, as opposed to ‘in kind’ assistance,
remains a relatively new approach and aid agencies
are at the early stages of developing guidelines,
policies and organisational capacity to implement
cash projects. Project managers lack support and
guidance about the practicalities of how most
efficiently and effectively to deliver cash to people.
Too often that means that they have to start from
scratch in assessing and choosing between different
options for cash delivery.
This report documents lessons learned from
previous experience and provides guidance for
project managers needing to make choices about
how best to deliver cash to people. It also explores
the potential for stronger partnerships with private
sector providers, and looks at potentially useful
developments in the payments industry. It suggests
the key questions that need to be asked in assessing
the choice between different options. The report is
based on a review of the relevant literature, project
documents and interviews with aid agency staff and
commercial providers. In total the team conducted
81 interviews with aid agencies, donors, commercial
providers and investors.