Cash Transfer Programming
and Innovation
Claire Durham
Senior Officer, CTP Innovations
&
Joseph Oliveros
Senior Officer, Project
Management, IS Transformation
Unit
Session Objectives

An awareness of Cash Transfer Programming

An understanding of how IT can support a National
Society in implementing Cash Transfer Programming

Identify future IT opportunities and challenges to scaling
up cash programming
What is Cash Transfer programming?
What is CTP?
What is cash transfer programming?
‘Cash transfer programming is
one form of humanitarian
response, which can be used to
address basic needs and/or
protect, establish or re-establish
livelihoods’
(RC/RC Guidelines for CTP)
Let’s compare cash with goods
Common reactions to CTP

Not spent appropriately to meet needs

Harder to target people

Misuse

No functioning markets

Fraud

Trader collusion & price fixing

Theft or violence

Gender issues & power relations

Insecure & risky

Data protection / Know Your Customer

Slow

Won’t reach the most vulnerable

Donors won’t support

Difficult to implement

Difficult immediately post-disaster

Risk of inflation

Risk of corruption
(KYC)
Common reactions to CTP

Not spent appropriately to meet needs

Harder to target people

Misuse

No functioning markets

Fraud

Trader collusion & price fixing

Theft or violence

Gender issues & power relations

Insecure & risky

Data protection / Know Your Customer

Slow

Won’t reach the most vulnerable

Donors won’t support

Difficult to implement

Difficult immediately post-disaster

Risk of inflation

Risk of corruption
(KYC)
Why increased use of cash transfers?
 Dignity
 Flexibility and choice
 Power transfer
 Cost efficiency for agencies
and participants
 Large impact and link with
recovery
 Support or revitalise local
trade and economic recovery
 Preferred by affected
communities
 Supports peoples’ own
pathways to recovery and
increased resilience
 Paper
Voucher
 Tokens/
Smart
cards
 Scratch
cards
Electronic Vouchers
 Banks
 Store Value
cards
 Mobile
Money
 Remittance
companies
Paper/Physical Vouchers
 Cash in
envelops
Using Financial Service providers
Direct Cash
Delivery Mechanism Instruments
 Smart Cards
 Mobile
phones
 Biometrics
Functions & Roles: Programmes & IT
Functions & Roles: IT

DATA PROTECTION

INFORMATION SECURITY

THE RIGHTS OF THE BENEFICIARIES

UNDERSTANDING RISKS
Jordan Population Movement (2012-2016)
• CTP programme (unconditional) started in 2012 and still running.
• 7,000 families reached (approximately 35,000 individuals) in Amman.
• Average of 140 JoD (around 200 CHF) per family per month, 54%
used for rent, 30% for food and 16% for other needs.
• 46% Female head of households.
• 86% of our beneficiaries’ living condition has been improved.
• Methodology used to withdraw the money are IRIS and ATM card.
• Technologies used in IFRC/JRCS (SQL Database, MS Access
Database, ODK).
How it is done?
Request to create bank accounts
Informing us once the accounts
are created
Request Beneficiaries' list data
Send Beneficiaries' list data
Request to load payment
SMS
Vietnam Typhoons Wutip & Nari (October 2013)
•
•
•
•
•
•
To meet immediate needs
6,708 families (33,540 persons)
Within 3 months
Average 65 CHF per family
Cash in envelopes
Reaching affected population
within 4 weeks compared to 8
weeks in 2011 Mekong floods
• Possible due to CTP
preparedness programme
Nepal Earthquake 2015
•
•
•
•
•
•
Unconditional cash grants
To meet immediate needs
40,000 families (200,000 persons)
Within 3 months
Average 140 CHF per family
Cash in envelopes and cheques
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan (December 2013)
• To meet immediate needs
• 90,000 families (450,000
persons)
• Within 3 months by the
RCRC Movement
• Average 43 CHF per family
• Local remittance company
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan (December 2013)
This remains to date the largest and fastest CTP operation implemented
by the RCRC Movement.
Innovation and practical uses of technology
Key Opportunities
 Making cash central to emergency response planning
 Creating a “predicable cash based delivery model”
 Expanding digital payment systems increases the
potential to reach people quickly
 Scaling CTP from the current 6% of humanitarian aid
 Also an opportunity for broader reform of the
humanitarian system
 Bold leadership and commitment:
 Strategic priorities; Objectives; Work plans.
 Engagement with new partners
– internal & external
Key Challenges
 Cross-departmental
and cross-divisional
 Re-alignment of internal legacy systems
 Defining our needs and requirements for last mile
delivery systems (registration, demand, distribution)
 Evaluating last mile systems
 Operationalising developing/mature systems
 Integration – interoperability of systems
 Data protection - storage and transfer
 Local – Global
 Game changers – P-2-P giving, social safety nets
So what do we do about it?
Comments & Questions?
Thank you
© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2014.
Any part of this presentation may be cited, copied, translated into other languages or adapted to meet local
needs without prior permission from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
provided that the source is clearly stated. Requests for commercial reproduction should be directed to the
IFRC Secretariat at [email protected]
All photos used in this presentation are copyright of the IFRC unless otherwise indicated.