Cash and Voucher Assistance

• When a framework agreement is to be signed, make sure to include CVA as a support modality in the HSP Framework Agreement with relevant authorities and with donors.
• Authorities may raise concerns or be reluctant about using CVA to support migrants. If advocacy is required, the in-country cash working group can be a good space to advocate for the use of CVA as National Societies are often engaged in or leading such groups. Issues like targeting, the amount to be allocated, or the duration of the programme can be agreed in these forums.
• Linking CVA with social protection systems can also support advocacy. Social assistance is often provided through cash, and this can help showcase the benefits of using cash to meet a diverse range of needs and demonstrate that using CVA is already a practice in country. Migrants may have the right to access social assistance and thus referral systems can be easier to set up than a new CVA programme. On the contrary, if migrants can’t access social protection, the NS, through the HSP, can complement the systems providing assistance to migrants and therefore help prevent exclusion.
• Resistance can also come from host communities. Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) is an important element of avoiding tensions. This CEA in CVA checklist provides useful orientation on the process.
• Other organisations might be using CVA, and partnerships can facilitate assistance, either through developing joint programmes, joint advocacy or establishing safe referrals to complement the assistance that each partner is providing. You could use this tool to gather data on stakeholders Key stakeholders matrix template

• Human resources: What skills are available? Is there any experience in the team on using CVA? Does the National Society, including its branches have any experience on using CVA? How can gaps regarding human resources and experience be solved?

• Policy context: Is CVA permitted by national and local government policies? What legislation should be taken into account when using CVA? Is there anything specific to be aware of when supporting migrants with CVA? What are the social assistance strategies and policies put in place by the government? What are the coordination mechanisms in place?

• Participatory needs assessment: What do people need? Can people’s needs be met through providing CVA? How do people prefer to receive assistance? Don’t make assumptions and ensure an inclusive, gender-based approach. Different people have different needs, and needs varies at different stages of the journey, so their preferred assistance modality also may change. Here is a tool you can use to estimate needs Priority needs calculation template

• Assistance gaps and referrals: What services, including cash assistance, are provided to migrants and who are the key actors? A tool that can be used for mapping is available here 4Ws matrix template Are there programmes supporting the needs identified and is it possible to establish safe referrals? Is there still need for CVA to complement these other services? Consider whether referrals to existing services, including government-led social protection, are more appropriate than starting a new programme to provide cash assistance. Make sure data protection rules are observed when working with partners as it is crucial to consider the potential consequences or risks for beneficiaries if their personal information is shared.

Please refer to the Safe Referral section in this toolkit for more detailed guidance on referrals.

• CVA feasibility: consider HSP location and migration routes. Can people have physical and social access to the markets and services they need? Are there enough shops, markets, service centres that provide products and services people need? Is the economy monetized and are people used to handling money?

• Delivery mechanisms (for vouchers, providers include commodity merchants, local vendors, supermarkets, wholesalers, etc. For cash, financial service providers (FSP) such as banks, mobile network operators, or remittance agents supporting): Does the NS already have an agreement or system in place to deliver CVA? Is this suitable for the targeted groups? If not, what delivery mechanisms are appropriate for targeted groups (what do they know or are they used to)? Is there any identity documentation requirement in order to receive money through these mechanisms?

• Do the people targeted have any identity documents that are accepted and can be used to receive the money? If not, are there alternative, more appropriate delivery mechanisms? Here you can access a tool to map Mapping service providers template and you can adapt this template for the interview with the service providers FSP baseline checklist. Make sure to include an analysis of the availability of FSP and the coverage of the services along the migratory routes as well as safe access to the service for the targeted population. And remember that private companies are open to negotiate. Here an orientation on Advantages & disadvantages CVA delivery mechanisms.

• Specific considerations if recipients of the assistance are refugees and asylum seekers: If beneficiaries are refugees, does the FSP have a branch or storage facility in the country of origin of the refugees where data might be requested by authorities?

• Registration and data protection: What is the national legislation on personal data protection and privacy? Which data do I really need to collect? Do the people targeted have any concerns or fears of sharing their data? Is there any risk for any of them (considered groups disaggregated) if we collect their data and/or share with partners? When using CVA, there is a tendency to believe more evidence or data is needed than for regular goods or service provision. However, the same due diligence must be applied, and only strictly necessary data must be collected. Specific considerations if recipients of the assistance are refugees, asylum seekers (IFRC Practical Guidance for Data Protection in Cash and Voucher Assistance) and undocumented migrants:  Would there be serious concerns or fear from the beneficiaries if their data was somehow shared with the government due to these obligations? A decision tree and additional resources are available here on what to consider: How can practitioners of Cash and Voucher Assistance protect the personal data of the people they attend to?

Please refer to Migrant Data Management and Protection and Community Engagement and Accountability sections in this toolkit for more detailed information.

• Is there any unacceptable risk associated with CVA? Here is a template you can use IFRC SOPs Risk management checklist

• Pilot projects: if CVA is new to the National Society or the country, or new to the migration context, a small-scale pilot project could be considered to test its feasibility, including acceptance and risks. A pilot project can be useful to explore barriers and supporting factors and identify solutions to any complications prior to progressing to a larger-scale response.

• Linking humanitarian cash and social protection: National Societies are uniquely placed to complement public authorities in providing assistance, considering their auxiliary role, their presence across the territory, and access to communities. National Societies can complement existing social protection programmes supporting gaps in coverage or with top ups when assistance given is not enough to meet needs. For example, access to social protection in a country might be limited to migrants in a regular administrative status and so undocumented migrants would be excluded. National Societies could take the responsibility to provide assistance to those that fall through social protection gaps, such as migrants in transit, those not registered or those who are undocumented. This may take dedicated humanitarian diplomacy efforts by the National Society and can be linked, for example, to International Conference Resolution 3 from 2011 where States recognised that ` National Societies should enjoy effective access to all migrants, irrespective of their legal status, in order to deliver humanitarian assistance and protection services without being penalised, both in their role as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field at all levels and under their general humanitarian mandate`. National Societies can also advocate and influence the assistance design to be adapted to the changing needs of migrants.