Cash transfers (2024)

What is it?

The cash transfers are assistance in the form of money - either physical currency or e-cash.

In many humanitarian crises, goods are available on the market, but the affected population has lost the means to buy them.

In such cases, cash transfers can be securely provided to those who need it most. The beneficiaries can choose how to use the money, giving them the dignity of choice.

Why is this important?

Evidence shows that cash transfers are often more efficient and effective than other forms of aid.

The cash transfers modality provides affected people with the means and flexibility to decide and prioritise their recovery. In many contexts, cash assistance allows more aid to reach the beneficiaries directly.

It also supports local markets and lays the foundations for communities’ recovery and resilience. Cash transfers are effective in addressing negative coping strategies such as poor diets or debts.

Cash transfers (1)

Cash can link with existing social protection systems or build the blocks for future longer-term assistance from the outset.

Given its multi-purpose nature, cash is central to addressing people’s needs in a coordinated and demand-driven way.

Cash preparedness ensures that humanitarian organisations are ready to deliver cash before a shock by having, for example, procedures and agreements in place.

Cash is also a catalyst for innovation. It is strongly associated with other reforms in humanitarian assistance, such as localisation, market-based support and digitalisation.

How are we helping?

Cash transfers is a default modality for EU humanitarian aid. To ensure the most appropriate modality for aid delivery, we conduct a robust analysis on context, market, and the needs of the population.

The use of cash transfers to deliver the EU’s humanitarian assistance has grown in recent years, from 17.4% of the total budget in 2015 and 2016 to 24.6% in 2021 and 2022.

Our commitment to using cash in humanitarian settings is grounded in the policy and operational work of EU humanitarian work. It is also backed up by the political endorsem*nt of Council Conclusions on Common Principles for Multi-Purpose Cash assistance. We are also working to harmonise cash assistance under the Joint Donor Statement on Humanitarian Cash Transfers.

Cash transfers (2)

The Commission communication on the EU’s humanitarian action emphasises the links between cash and the secure and efficient use of digital tools. The EU promotes cash operations, which build on technological advances and innovations and use technology to strengthen interoperability and link to longer-term solutions. EU humanitarian aid prefers digital solutions such as electronic cash transfers and digital identities.

Our thematic policy document on cash transfers provides guidance to EU humanitarian partners on using cash transfers. It promotes a coherent system for delivering cash assistance and common approach amongst EU funded humanitarian partners.

Several cross-cutting issues, such as protection, disaster preparedness, greening, and localisation are reflected in the note. The policy document also encourages innovation through digitalisation and interoperability.

The policy is complemented by the large-scale cash guidance note (annex 1), with specific considerations for larger-scale cash programmes above €10 million. The guidance encourages our humanitarian partners to carefully consider and jointly define large scale transfer programmes to avoid fragmentation of their efforts.

Examples of EU-funded humanitarian cash assistance

Türkiye

Since 2016, the EU’s single largest humanitarian programme in its history, the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN), has provided 80 months of uninterrupted cash assistance via EU-funded debit cards to refugees in Türkiye with a budget of more than €2.3 billion.

In July 2023, the EU’s humanitarian aid provided its last cash transfer to more than 1.5 million refugees through the ESSN.

The programme has now been handed over to the EU’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, in line with the EU humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach. Refugees in Türkiye will continue to receive assistance under the new EU programme Social Safety Net (SSN).

Cash transfers (3)

East and South Africa

The EU, together with other donors, funds a programme to provide in-kind food and cash assistance to food insecure populations across Eastern and Southern Africa.

During 2022,we contributed over €33 million for cash transfers.

Ukraine

The EU funds multiple cash assistance programs in Ukraine to support people affected by Russia’s war.

Since the beginning of 2022, we provided €208 million in cash transfers to help with shelter, protection, water and sanitation, livelihoods, education in emergencies, health, and food security.

Cash transfers (4)

Partnership with IFRC

In 2022, the EU has started a programmatic partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), EU National Red Cross Societies, and National Societies in the countries where humanitarian aid is delivered.

This partnership provides an effective and adapted local response to vulnerable communities by providing cash assistance to meet their basic needs and access healthcare.

In addition, it strengthens the unique network of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, which are often the first responders in humanitarian crises.

Last updated: 08/06/2023

Facts & figures

EU humanitarian aid cash transfers in 2021 and 2022:
€1.2 billion
24.6% of the total budget

Top countries in terms of cash transfer value are:
Türkiye, Ukraine, Yemen, Lebanon, Afghanistan

Cash transfers (2024)

FAQs

What are examples of cash transfers? ›

Different types of cash transfers

Examples of conditional cash transfers are building a shelter or going to a nutrition screening. Multipurpose cash assistance (MPC) provides recipients with the amount of money required to cover, fully or partially, their basic needs.

What is the evidence for cash transfers? ›

There is strong evidence that cash transfers are associated with reductions in monetary poverty. The evidence consistently showed an increase in total expenditure and food expenditure and a reduction in poverty measures. About three-quarters of studies for this outcome area reported statistically significant effects.

What is the emergency response cash transfer? ›

In certain emergencies, the supply of food to markets and shops is sustained but affected communities lose the means to buy it. In these cases, cash transfers ensure aid directly and quickly reaches those in greatest need. In addition, relief aid distributions can pose logistical problems and disrupt local markets.

Do cash transfer programs work? ›

Indeed, by 2016, over 130 countries in the Global South had implemented a cash transfer program, generating a large body of evidence demonstrating the positive outcomes on participants' health (both physical and psychological), food security, and education outcomes, among others.

What are the risks of cash transfers? ›

Risks associated with cash transfer programmes in fragile contexts include theft, diversion, corruption, security, targeting, misuse by beneficiaries and inflationary effects.

What is considered a cash transfer? ›

the act of moving money from one bank or place to another; the money moved in this way He made a cash transfer of $1,000 to his relatives in Haiti.

What is the problem with cash transfers? ›

Some of the shortcomings of cash transfer are that they often overlook culture, community organization and social relations. By doing so, they fall in a self-fulfilling trap, once the intervention ends, once the household stops receiving money as an incentive, old habits and costumes come back.

How do you prove money transfer? ›

You should be able to obtain a proof of payment from your online banking system or from your sending bank directly. Typically, if you completed your payment by domestic bank transfer, you can obtain a bank receipt. If you completed your payment by international bank transfer, you can obtain a SWIFT MT103 document.

What is the cash transfer method? ›

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.

What is instant cash transfer? ›

What is Instant Cash? It is a global money transfer service available across many countries. It allows you to send money almost instantaneously to any of our numerous locations worldwide.

What is humanitarian cash transfer? ›

Humanitarian cash transfers help UNICEF serve children and families better. They are a cost-effective way of quickly getting support to those who need it most. The overall cost of delivering cash assistance is often lower than in-kind assistance, meaning more people can be reached.

What is the emergency cash transfer program? ›

The ECT is an adaptive strategy of the DSWD in bridging the gap between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery support in disasters and emergencies by providing unconditional cash assistance to disaster-affected families, including those whose houses were partially and totally damaged.

What are the four types of cash transfers? ›

There are three main categories of cash transfers: an unconditional cash transfer (UCT): a cash transfer made without any conditions required for the recipient; a conditional cash transfer (CCT), which is made on the condition that the recipient meets specified criteria such as school attendance or receiving ...

Which cash transfer is the safest? ›

Wire transfers at a bank are ideal for securely sending large amounts domestically or internationally. Money transfer scams often include unusual requests to send money to strangers.

What is the unconditional cash transfer program? ›

The Unconditional Cash Transfer Program (UCT) is the biggest tax reform mitigation program under the TRAIN Law. It seeks to provide cash grants to poor households and individuals who may not benefit from the lower income tax rates but may be adversely affected by rising prices.

What is a cash transfer payment give an example? ›

A transfer payment is a payment of money for which there are no goods or services exchanged. Transfer payments commonly refer to efforts by local, state, and federal governments to redistribute money to those in need. In the U.S., Social Security and unemployment insurance are common types of transfer payments.

What are examples of cash transactions? ›

Cash transactions refer to the exchange of physical currency as a payment method. It involves using cash to make purchases directly, without the involvement of electronic payment systems. A typical example is paying for groceries with cash at a local store. Let's understand them in detail.

What is an example of a money transfer? ›

Money transfers are any transactions arranged to move money from one place to another. Most of us make money transfers all the time: for example, through standing orders and Direct Debits to pay bills, or simply transferring money to a friend's account to pay our share of a restaurant bill.

What is cash transfer methods? ›

Physical Cash. Personal Checks. Bank Drafts, Money Orders, and Cashier's Checks. Email Money Transfers.

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