Distinguish cash, digital transfers and vouchers
Cash is generally unrestricted while vouchers may be limited to goods, services or merchants. Organizations should explain purpose, value, frequency, conditions and support.
Check markets and access
Availability, prices, transport, safety, accessibility and merchant capacity all matter. The design must include people without phones, accounts, documents, mobility or digital confidence.
Protect people and data
Registration and payment can expose information. Data sharing, correction, complaints, fraud, fees, coercion and theft require clear safeguards.
What donors can verify
Look for needs and market analysis, delivery methods, monitoring and accountability. Aggregated reporting can show results without exposing individual recipients.
Read a cash programme through 6 questions
- 1
What need?
Identify the objective and population.
- 2
Why this modality?
Look for market, access and preference analysis.
- 3
What amount?
Check calculation, frequency and duration.
- 4
How delivered?
Understand cash, account, phone, card or voucher.
- 5
What safeguards?
Find privacy, accessibility, security and anti-fraud measures.
- 6
What remedy?
A complaint and correction channel should exist.
Common misunderstandings
- Assuming cash always replaces goods or services.
- Confusing humanitarian support with a repayable loan.
- Publishing a recipient’s name or payment as proof.
- Ignoring fees, outages, distance or digital barriers.
- Using an enrolment form without an official source.
Frequently asked questions
Is cash assistance uncontrolled?
Programmes set objectives, criteria, value, delivery, monitoring and complaints; restrictions vary by context.
Why not buy goods directly?
Where markets function, cash can offer choice and speed; goods remain necessary when supply, price or safety prevents this.
Should a recipient pay to register?
A legitimate programme does not require informal payment to an intermediary. Always verify the official channel.
Can I give money directly to someone?
That is a private choice, not automatically a humanitarian programme with assessment, safeguards and complaints.
Official sources
Always verify the date and conditions on the official source.