This booklet can be used as an introduction to the cash transfer in emergencies of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC). This is not a technical guidance. The purpose of the booklet is to increase the awareness and general knowledge of cash transfer programming.
This booklet is meant to be used by Red Cross staff and volunteers at different levels and local authorities and government staff during preparation as well as implementation stages.
Overview:
The booklet discusses about:
Why conduct in cash transfer programme
The beneficiary selection process and criteria
Beneficiary stories on the cash transfer programming
Usage: Introduction to cash transfer programming
Audience: National Society staff and volunteers
See also: For Vietnamese version click here Tiếng Việt, [pdf, 4 MB]
This publication is part of the Cash Transfer Programmming (CTP) quick guide series which also consists of:
The case studies captures the stories from the beneficiaries of Myanmar Red Cross Society cash transfer programming in Kalay, Myanmar. These stories are of:
This two-page case study documents the good practices of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in cash and voucher in relief and recovery in forms of cash grants, cash for work and vouchers.
This toolkit brings together the collective knowledge of best practices, key issues in programming, and adaptations of cash transfer programme methodologies for urban settings. It is also the aim of this toolkit to promote a variety of options for implementation that reflect the multisectoral and multi-disciplinary nature of cash transfer programmes. All tools described in this toolkit are adapted from real urban projects, from a variety of organisations and contexts.
Overview:
Some urban-specific lessons learnt include:
Gender
Access barriers
Vendors
Cash-for-Work
Waiting times
Project outcomes
Verification
Urban purchasing behaviours
Organisational capacity for cash
Harmonisation of rates
Calculate household income and expenses
The toolkit covers discussions on:
Assessments in Urban Areas
Response Analysis for Urban Emergencies
Targeting and Verification in Urban Environments
Implementation of Cash Transfer Programmes in Urban Disasters
Fraud and Corruption Prevention in Urban Settings
Monitoring and Evaluation for Urban Cash Programmes
This guidance provides the materials required to run an awareness session (internal advocacy) for senior representatives of a National Society on the nature of cash transfer programming, its challenges and benefits. National Societies work in different contexts and as such the materials will need to be adapted to suit the specific purpose.
With the aim to provide the resources needed to analyse the barriers to the use of cash transfers within the National Society, and to use these to plan and facilitate a meeting or workshop with its leadership to explore opportunities and constraints associated with cash transfer programming, and thus promote the consideration of cash transfers as part of a response option analysis process.
This guide is also equipped with a powerpoint presentation (in the same link below as the guidelines), discussing about:
What is CTP?
Why some National Societies choose CTP
Approaches to CTP
Transfer modalities
Mapping RC/RC CTP
Trends in CTP
Response option analysis (how to determine what programmatic approach is the most appropriate)
Overview:
The process could be summarized below:
Step 1: Situation analysis
Step 2: Defining the purpose of our intervention
Step 3: Identifying the target audience
Step 4: Selecting the advocates
Step 5: Developing the approach
Step 6: Finding and selecting appropriate evidence
Step 7: Planning the meeting
Step 8: Holding the meeting
Step 9: Follow-up
Usage: Guidance for internal advocacy implementation
The purpose of this guidance is to support National Societies in demonstrating improved capacity and operational readiness to provide scalable and timely emergency cash transfer programming (CTP). This will be achieved when a National Society has trained and experienced staff and volunteers who are familiar with its tools and procedures, use them efficiently, and contribute to their adaptation and improvement. Some of the desirable outcomes would be:
A National Society has a CTP preparedness plan of action (PoA) that is properly budgeted, resourced, and has clear activities and outputs.
A National Society achieves the specific outputs planned in their PoA. These outputs are tailored to address each National Society’s unique opportunities and barriers, to be operationally ready to provide scalable emergency CTP.
The National Society has a solid database of CTP trained and experienced staff and volunteers at headquarter and branch levels.
CTP standard operating procedures (SOPs), systems and procedures are agreed, documented and widely available for all, training has been provided in their use and they are updated periodically or after each response, based on lessons learned.
A National Society CTP toolkit has been developed, integrated with existing tools and shared with staff and volunteers (and with other humanitarian partners, in order to widen their knowledge, understanding and use). It is reviewed and updated as a result of ongoing preparedness and response actions.
CTP communications materials are developed and widely available for National Society staff and volunteers to use and adapt.
Learning from operations and responses is captured and procedures, tools and training materials are updated as necessary based on this learning.
National Society CTP responses are coordinated both internally within the Movement and externally with other actors.
Overview:
The process of CTP preparedness has a number of parallel aspects. To reflect this, this guidance is organized along four parallel tracks, each of which contributes to the operational readiness of the National Society. CTP mainstreaming and preparedness activities need to focus on all four tracks to develop operational readiness capacity, although prioritization of activities will depend on the National Society’s own unique profile. The four tracks are:
enabling systems for CTP preparedness
programme tools for CTP preparedness
resources and capacities for CTP preparedness
communication and coordination for CTP preparedness.
While each National Society will forge its own path to CTP operational readiness, if they follow common guidance and put in place similar components (as identified through the pilots and outlined in this guidance) it will then be easier for representatives of different Movement actors to work effectively together in times of an international response.
This case study extracts the lessons learned of implementing a mobile money transfer as a delivery mechanism in the context Bangladesh and the process of engaging with the private sector. Innovation and new technologies are continuously identified and explored as ways to improve CTP (Cash Transfer Programming) which creates exciting opportunities to partner with the private sector.
Overview:
The case study highlights the programme description, challenges and lessons learned, and key messages on mobile money transfers. The key messages on mobile money transfers include:
Private sectors are businesses, so to attract the private sector to partner with us, we must offer something of clear value.
Our operating environments are not the same with key differences in implementation practices.
Our beneficiaries, their clients (this highlights the difference of perspective to take into consideration).
Cashing-out must be among the mobile financial services offered.
National regulations and policies are constantly changing.
Identify the bottlenecks for scaling up.
Humanitarian organisations are in a strong position to negotiate.
Usage: Guidance for project planning and implementation
Reference: Exploring mobile money transfers through private partnerships in Bangladesh – CTP case study. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. (2016). Pp. 1-12.
Review the cash transfer programming (CTP) over the past years
Propose adjustment to CTP interventions in the Viet Nam Red Cross future relief operations
Overview:
The report discusses: General overview of CTP programs, including stakeholders operating CTPs; types of cash transfer modalities, advantages and disadvantages of different types of CTP (cash grants, vouchers and cash for work).
Assessments were conducted on: CTP carried out in Vietnam (from 2010 to 2014) and by VNRC (in 2015) on appropriateness and feasibility, timeliness, relevance of cash support level, compliance in CTP implementation, feasibility of distributing cash through financial institutions-banks.
Recommendations of the findings include:
CTP should be conducted fast and timely
CTP process should be continuously standardized, strict but simple, clearly decentralization and devolution, strengthening monitoring and evaluation
The level of unconditional cash support level (in emergency phase)should be based on the minimum standards of humanitarian response, poverty and the actual conditions in Vietnam, as well as requirements of the donor
Strengthen awareness-raising and communication on CTP
Gradually apply the cash allocation model in the world to increase the effectiveness of the program.
The report is available in English [0.9 MB, pdf] and in Vietnamese [0.59 MB, pdf]
