CALP Network

How are US funding cuts affecting cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in the Middle East and North Africa? ?? ??https://calp.net/3Dt2ioj Rana Nassar, CALP’s Regional Representative in MENA, unpacks the impact in light of past funding patterns. For example, the US government provided 52% of CVA funding for northwest Syria (2022-24) and 40% for Yemen (2024). She breaks down the consequences of these cuts: ?? In Gaza, even in active conflict, cash assistance was one of the first humanitarian responses. ?? In Lebanon, many people returning to destroyed homes and villages will struggle to recover from the shocks of war. ?? In Syria, local organizations warn of increased reliance on negative coping mechanisms like child labour and early marriage, as well as damage to local markets. ?? In Egypt and Libya, organizations were already struggling to meet the needs of refugees. Despite the enormous challenges, the blog explores key solutions: engaging non-traditional donors, strengthening locally-led responses, and pushing for flexible funding. Please do share any comments or questions below. #HumanitarianAid #CVA #MENA #FundingCuts #CashAssistance

With more and more 'cash bans' observed in the Sahel (and further afield) how can we respond? This is the topic of CALP's latest report ??https://calp.net/3XQ8eyj? Context: Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is one of the most effective ways to support people in crisis – offering ????????????, ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. Yet, increasing restrictions limit its use in the Sahel region, where ???????? ????.?? ?????????????? ???????????? need humanitarian aid.? Our latest research unpacks the ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? behind these restrictions – including ???????????????? ????????????????, ???????????????????????????? ???? ??????, ?????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????-???????????????????? ?????????????????? – and provides ???????????????????? ?????????????????? to safeguard assistance.? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ??????: Strengthening partnerships with authorities, increasing awareness of CVA’s impact, and promoting development-oriented programmes, including stronger links to social protection systems.? ??? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????: Leveraging the flexibility of CVA, exploring alternative modalities, using technology for transparency, and enhancing coordination to maintain aid delivery.? Ensuring ?????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? requires collective action. Let’s work together to overcome barriers and keep CVA accessible to those who need it.? ?? We hope that you find the report useful, please share any thoughts in the comments below.? #CashTransfers #HumanitarianAid #CVA #SahelCrisis #AidEffectiveness #HumanitarianPolicy?

How are funding cuts affecting cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in the Americas? ?? ?? https://calp.net/3Dt2ioj Holly Welcome Radice, CALP’s Regional Representative for the region, breaks it down in the first post of our new regional blog series. Before the cuts, CVA in the Americas was on a sharp rise—growing 129% between 2018 and 2023 and reaching millions across 20+ countries and territories. But with 68% of humanitarian funding in 2024 coming from the US Government, reductions are hitting hard. Despite the challenges, Holly offers both a reality check and a rallying cry: “We cannot define ourselves based on what we lack, but instead, by what we have.” One of the region’s biggest strengths? Its sheer ‘scrappiness’ ??. Read the full blog for honest insights and reasons to stay hopeful. #CashTransfers #HumanitarianAid #CVA #TheAmericas

The CALP network welcomes the ERC’s ambition to ‘shift towards cash-transfer programming where possible’. ? Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher released a message to the humanitarian community this week. The message called for a ‘humanitarian reset’ to reimagine how we work, find new sources of funding, build?fresh arguments and allies, coordinate more nimbly and fight back on behalf of the people we serve. He set out three strategic priorities:? ? ??The best possible crisis response with the resources we have? ?? Urgent work to reform and reimagine how we work? ?? A shift of power to humanitarian leaders in country, and the people we serve.? ? At CALP we believe cash is the future. It speaks directly to the ERC’s strategic priorities:? ? ??Cash and voucher assistance is cost efficient?–?in short it enables us to save more lives with fewer resources.?Evidence consistently supports this?–?with one study in Ethiopia and Somalia showing cash transfers to be between 25 and 30 per cent more cost-efficient than in-kind assistance. And that is before we get to the multiplier effects on local economies. ? ? ?? Cash has always challenged siloes. It provides a springboard for re-imagining how we can work towards a leaner, faster, more locally-led system that embraces digital innovation, new sources of funding, decentralised coordination, and is better linked to other forms of assistance. ? ? ?? Cash is (usually) the way?people in crisis prefer to receive support – it is the ultimate people-centred response, shifting power from aid givers to recipients. ?It upholds choice and dignity for people in crisis, ensuring they have the agency to make decisions based on their specific needs and circumstances.? ? Despite all the opportunities cash offers, the prevailing politics, incentives and perceptions threaten to knock cash off-course (see CALP’s recent report on ‘US Funding Freeze – Estimating the impact on CVA volumes in humanitarian response’). Strong leadership and decisive collective action are critical to protect the progress we have made. ?? ? As a cash community, we also need to challenge ourselves on the way we ‘do cash’ and look at where we can simplify and streamline the terminologies, methodologies, systems and structures that have built up over time so we can unleash the full power of cash. #HumanitarianAid #USAID #ForeignAid #AidCuts #GlobalDevelopment #FundingCrisis #NGOs #Nonprofits #CrisisResponse #FutureOfAid #FundUSAID,?#HumanitarianCrisis,?#DefendAid, #Devex

?? The dawn of 'Cash 2.0'? ?? https://lnkd.in/exqyjhsJ Rory Crew from the CALP Network argues that as traditional funding shrinks, a new wave of innovation could reshape how we support people in crisis. Highlighting non-traditional donors, digital assets and decentralized coordination he sets out his predictions for the future of cash and voucher assistance within the humanitarian landscape. #CashAssistance #HumanitarianAid #Innovation #Decentralization #DigitalAssets?

This #InternationalWomensDay, let’s talk about the ways Cash and Voucher Assistance can make a difference for women and girls by: ?? Boosting decision-making power ?? Helping women support their households ?? Enhancing protection in crisis situations ?? Ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products Explore the evidence and real-world examples in Holly Welcome Radice’s latest blog ?? ?? https://calp.net/3XSTjDV

CALP's website has had a makeover! Watch the video to find out more.

??? The disability and age inclusive #CVA Community of Practice is kicking off! ?? Sign up: https://lnkd.in/eAXx47gT What will happen at the meeting? ??Learn about the intersection of disability, aging and CVA. ??Hear from a panel who has success on incorporating #DisabilityInclusion in #CWG. ??Work collectively in groups to discuss solutions. ?? 20 March 2025 ? 8:00 Washington D.C. / 13.00 UCT The community will be co-led by CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Humanity & Inclusion, HelpAge International and the CALP Network. Manuel Rothe, Madeline Sahagun, Holly Welcome Radice.

?From aid freeze to termination Ten thousand of aid grants and contracts have now been terminated by the US government. This hasty decision puts the lives of millions of the most vulnerable people on earth at greater risk of disaster, hunger and displacement. We expect that most of the estimated 42% of CVA funded by the US government was also terminated, meaning that one of the few humanitarian innovations that succeeded in scaling - one that is cost efficient, effective and preferred by crisis-affected people - is facing a massive setback after years of hard-won progress.? ? Looking ahead? ? In the immediate term, we will (need to) work together across the CALP Network, with CVA stakeholders, Cash Working Groups and donors, to highlight and address critical gaps in the CVA response. We know that CVA in some of the most severe crises like Haiti, northeast Nigeria, DRC and South Sudan were at least 50% funded by the US, with CVA in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen also significantly reliant on US funds.?? ? In the medium term, we will (need to) re-imagine and re-design CVA delivery models to be even more locally-led, people-centred, effective and cost efficient - both in humanitarian contexts and beyond. We need to re-make the case for cash, including with new audiences, including non-traditional donors and wider civil society.?

New report alert!?Changes to US humanitarian policy and funding cuts threaten a decade of progress in scaling up Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). Why does this matter? Because CVA is both an effective and efficient way to support people in crisis, it offers choice and dignity to its recipients, supports local markets and most importantly: usually people prefer it. Our analysis estimates a potential drop of CVA volumes from $5.5bn in 2024, to $3.2 bn in 2025 if all US Government (USG) funding disappears. And, of course, this against a backdrop of increasing humanitarian need. Key findings: ??In 2022, the US government funded an estimated 42% of all global CVA. ??If all US Government funding for CVA is cut in 2025, that's equivalent to a 42% reduction from 2024 levels. If half is cut that's a 21% reduction. ??Going with that worst case scenario, this takes volumes of CVA funding back to around 2017 levels. And yet the number of people in need has tripled since 2017. ??Many large-scale CVA responses in 2024 were highly dependent on USG funding –?providing up to 62% of CVA in some countries. ??Six countries received more than half of CVA funding from the US government including South Sudan, DRC, Bangladesh, N.E. Nigeria, Somalia and Haiti. This would be devastating for millions relying on CVA for life-saving needs. To better understand the potential impacts, and what it means for the future of humanitarian assistance please swipe through the slides below and read the full report here ?? https://calp.net/3XkKphQ Note: The report uses various data sources to estimate CVA volumes and US funding percentages, while acknowledging the limitations of available data.?These are explained fully in the report. #HumanitarianCrisis #CashAssistance #USFundingFreeze Cate Turton Ruth McCormack Rory Crew Kate Hart