Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA)
EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM: FINAL EVALUATION REPORT
This report provides the results of the final evaluation of the Emergency Food Security Program (EFSP) implemented in twelve districts within the four regions of Sool, Sanaag, Galgaduud and Mudug that was conducted during July and August 2019.
Over and above the program performance parameters, the beneficiaries overwhelmingly indicated that the program had had significant positive impacts. The program was considered timely as it was delivered when beneficiaries were getting into months of food insecurity. When asked whether the cash transfer had improved their livelihoods, 93% of the household survey respondents reported that their livelihoods had improved, mainly in terms of improved purchasing power (93%), ease of meeting their basic needs (78%), better social status (22%), better and more recognition (17%), taking children to school (14%), access to healthcare (9%) and in other (non-described) areas (7%). In the household survey, 94% of the respondents received three cycles of the correct amount, whilst 5% who were targeted under the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) received two cycles enabling households to purchase their preferred foods, at least 25Kg of rice, 25Kg of sugar, 25kg wheat flour, 3kg of cooking oil, 10kg of pasta and some vegetables.
The program had a positive impact on the 52,299 households enrolled. The programme resulted in a reduction of distress coping strategies, with an average rCSI of 12.8 reducing from 20.4 at the program baseline. This supports the effectiveness of the program in enabling the beneficiaries to reduce the number of negative coping strategies that they were previously employing in order to meet basic household needs. In addition, as planned, all the households used the cash transfer to meet their basic needs, with 97% of them using the cash transfer to purchase food for the household, indicating that the cash intervention has directly contributed to the enhancement of the household food security during the drought. Trend analysis shows that throughout the program there was a downward trend of the rCSI scores, while there was an increase of household dietary diversity index to 20.4 compared to the baseline of 12.8. Similarly, an analysis of household hunger shows that in general the beneficiaries were experiencing little to no hunger, with only 13% experiencing moderate hunger and 86% of households experiencing little to no hunger. This again indicates that the programme has achieved positive outcomes.
While the evidence suggests that the program generated a number of positive impacts, across many domains, demonstrating effective and efficient implementation, and that the beneficiaries used the cash as per the original objectives of the program, households continue to faces challenges in their capacity to fully recover from the impacts of conflict and drought. Increasing the scale of interventions and developing additional holistic livelihood strategies for the target areas, creating linkages with market-based interventions and improvement in access to water, education and healthcare, experimenting with graduation models combined with local savings (VSLAs) were among some of the areas identified for improving future programming. A more detailed description of these recommendations is provided towards the tail end of the report. Read More...
Over and above the program performance parameters, the beneficiaries overwhelmingly indicated that the program had had significant positive impacts. The program was considered timely as it was delivered when beneficiaries were getting into months of food insecurity. When asked whether the cash transfer had improved their livelihoods, 93% of the household survey respondents reported that their livelihoods had improved, mainly in terms of improved purchasing power (93%), ease of meeting their basic needs (78%), better social status (22%), better and more recognition (17%), taking children to school (14%), access to healthcare (9%) and in other (non-described) areas (7%). In the household survey, 94% of the respondents received three cycles of the correct amount, whilst 5% who were targeted under the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) received two cycles enabling households to purchase their preferred foods, at least 25Kg of rice, 25Kg of sugar, 25kg wheat flour, 3kg of cooking oil, 10kg of pasta and some vegetables.
The program had a positive impact on the 52,299 households enrolled. The programme resulted in a reduction of distress coping strategies, with an average rCSI of 12.8 reducing from 20.4 at the program baseline. This supports the effectiveness of the program in enabling the beneficiaries to reduce the number of negative coping strategies that they were previously employing in order to meet basic household needs. In addition, as planned, all the households used the cash transfer to meet their basic needs, with 97% of them using the cash transfer to purchase food for the household, indicating that the cash intervention has directly contributed to the enhancement of the household food security during the drought. Trend analysis shows that throughout the program there was a downward trend of the rCSI scores, while there was an increase of household dietary diversity index to 20.4 compared to the baseline of 12.8. Similarly, an analysis of household hunger shows that in general the beneficiaries were experiencing little to no hunger, with only 13% experiencing moderate hunger and 86% of households experiencing little to no hunger. This again indicates that the programme has achieved positive outcomes.
While the evidence suggests that the program generated a number of positive impacts, across many domains, demonstrating effective and efficient implementation, and that the beneficiaries used the cash as per the original objectives of the program, households continue to faces challenges in their capacity to fully recover from the impacts of conflict and drought. Increasing the scale of interventions and developing additional holistic livelihood strategies for the target areas, creating linkages with market-based interventions and improvement in access to water, education and healthcare, experimenting with graduation models combined with local savings (VSLAs) were among some of the areas identified for improving future programming. A more detailed description of these recommendations is provided towards the tail end of the report. Read More...
Utilizing Cash and Voucher Assistance within Gender-based Violence Case Management to Support Crisis-Affected Populations in Ecuador: Learning Brief (Arabic)
With support from Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Women's Refugee Commission and CARE partnered to advance the Call to Action Roadmap by strengthening the capacity of GBV and CVA service providers in Ecuador to leverage CVA within case management services in the prevention of and response to GBV for crisis-affected populations.
This project, which spanned September to December 2019, serves as an opportunity to model comprehensive GBV case management in the face of high rates of GBV and to influence how humanitarian and development sectors and their practitioners respond to GBV in Ecuador. CVA has not yet been systematically leveraged to meet the needs of GBV survivors and those at risk (GBV clients). Previous work by CARE has focused on GBV prevention and mitigation in support of local government, women’s rights organizations, and civil society strengthening local policies and frameworks; these efforts will be complemented by this project’s focus on GBV response.
This learning brief was made possible by funding support from the Government of Sweden provided through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Read More...
This project, which spanned September to December 2019, serves as an opportunity to model comprehensive GBV case management in the face of high rates of GBV and to influence how humanitarian and development sectors and their practitioners respond to GBV in Ecuador. CVA has not yet been systematically leveraged to meet the needs of GBV survivors and those at risk (GBV clients). Previous work by CARE has focused on GBV prevention and mitigation in support of local government, women’s rights organizations, and civil society strengthening local policies and frameworks; these efforts will be complemented by this project’s focus on GBV response.
This learning brief was made possible by funding support from the Government of Sweden provided through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Read More...
Utilisation de Transferts Monétaires dans le Cadre des Services de Gestion de Cas de Violences Basées sur le Genre pour Soutenir les Populations Touchées par des Crises en Équateur: Synthèse
Avec le soutien du ministère des Affaires étrangères suédois, la Commission des femmes pour les réfugiés et CARE se sont associées pour faire progresser la Feuille de route de l’appel à l’action en renforçant les capacités de prise en charge des VBG et des transferts monétaires des prestataires de services en Équateur, de façon à optimiser les transferts monétaires dans le cadre des services de gestion des cas en vue d’assurer la prévention et la lutte contre les violences basées sur le genre au sein des populations touchées par la crise.
Ce projet s’est déroulé de septembre à décembre 2019. Il permet de démontrer, de manière exhaustive, la prise en charge des violences basées sur le genre dans un contexte présentant des taux élevés de VBG. Il permet également d’influencer la manière dont les acteurs humanitaires et les professionnels des secteurs du développement luttent contre les VBG en Équateur. Les transferts monétaires n’ont pas encore été systématiquement mis à profit pour répondre aux besoins des survivants de VBG et des personnes exposées aux risques de VBG (les bénéficiaires des services liés à la VBG). Par le passé, les projets de CARE se sont focalisés sur la prévention et l’atténuation des risques de VBG. L’association a donc apporté son soutien aux autorités locales, aux organisations de défense des droits des femmes et à la société civile en renforçant les politiques locales et les réglementations. Ces efforts seront renforcés au travers de l’accent mis par ce projet sur la lutte contre la VBG.
Cette synthèse a été rendue possible grâce au soutien financier du ministère des Affaires étrangères du Gouvernement suédois. Read More...
Ce projet s’est déroulé de septembre à décembre 2019. Il permet de démontrer, de manière exhaustive, la prise en charge des violences basées sur le genre dans un contexte présentant des taux élevés de VBG. Il permet également d’influencer la manière dont les acteurs humanitaires et les professionnels des secteurs du développement luttent contre les VBG en Équateur. Les transferts monétaires n’ont pas encore été systématiquement mis à profit pour répondre aux besoins des survivants de VBG et des personnes exposées aux risques de VBG (les bénéficiaires des services liés à la VBG). Par le passé, les projets de CARE se sont focalisés sur la prévention et l’atténuation des risques de VBG. L’association a donc apporté son soutien aux autorités locales, aux organisations de défense des droits des femmes et à la société civile en renforçant les politiques locales et les réglementations. Ces efforts seront renforcés au travers de l’accent mis par ce projet sur la lutte contre la VBG.
Cette synthèse a été rendue possible grâce au soutien financier du ministère des Affaires étrangères du Gouvernement suédois. Read More...
Empleo de Asistencia en Efectivo y Vales en la Gestión de Casos de Violencia Basada en Género para Brindar Apoyo a las Poblaciones Afectadas por Crisis en el Ecuador: Resumen informativo
Con el respaldo del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Suecia, la Comisión de Mujeres Refugiadas y CARE se asociaron para impulsar la Hoja de Ruta del Llamado a la Acción mediante el refuerzo de la capacidad de los proveedores de servicios relacionados con la violencia basada en género y la asistencia en efectivo y vales en el Ecuador a fin de aprovechar la AEV en los servicios de gestión de casos para prevenir y dar respuesta a la VBG en las poblaciones afectadas por crisis.
El proyecto, que se implementó entre septiembre y diciembre de 2019, supone un modelo de gestión integral de casos de VBG en un contexto que registra tasas elevadas de esta forma de violencia y constituyó una oportunidad de influir en la respuesta que los sectores humanitarios y del desarrollo, incluidos sus profesionales, dan a la VBG en el Ecuador. La AEV aún no se ha aprovechado de forma sistemática para cubrir las necesidades de sobrevivientes de VBG y de personas en riesgo de sufrirla (usuarios afectados por la VBG). Las acciones anteriores de CARE se han centrado en la prevención y mitigación de la VBG y para ello han respaldado a gobiernos locales, organizaciones de defensa de los derechos de la mujer y a la sociedad civil en su refuerzo de las políticas y marcos locales. Este proyecto se centra en la respuesta a la VBG y con ello complementará las acciones anteriores de CARE.
La elaboración de este resumen informativo ha sido posible gracias al apoyo en forma de financiación del Gobierno de Suecia proporcionado a través del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores. Read More...
El proyecto, que se implementó entre septiembre y diciembre de 2019, supone un modelo de gestión integral de casos de VBG en un contexto que registra tasas elevadas de esta forma de violencia y constituyó una oportunidad de influir en la respuesta que los sectores humanitarios y del desarrollo, incluidos sus profesionales, dan a la VBG en el Ecuador. La AEV aún no se ha aprovechado de forma sistemática para cubrir las necesidades de sobrevivientes de VBG y de personas en riesgo de sufrirla (usuarios afectados por la VBG). Las acciones anteriores de CARE se han centrado en la prevención y mitigación de la VBG y para ello han respaldado a gobiernos locales, organizaciones de defensa de los derechos de la mujer y a la sociedad civil en su refuerzo de las políticas y marcos locales. Este proyecto se centra en la respuesta a la VBG y con ello complementará las acciones anteriores de CARE.
La elaboración de este resumen informativo ha sido posible gracias al apoyo en forma de financiación del Gobierno de Suecia proporcionado a través del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores. Read More...
Utilizing Cash and Voucher Assistance within Gender-based Violence Case Management to Support Crisis-Affected Populations in Ecuador: Learning Brief
With support from Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Women's Refugee Commission and CARE partnered to advance the Call to Action Roadmap by strengthening the capacity of GBV and CVA service providers in Ecuador to leverage CVA within case management services in the prevention of and response to GBV for crisis-affected populations.
This project, which spanned September to December 2019, serves as an opportunity to model comprehensive GBV case management in the face of high rates of GBV and to influence how humanitarian and development sectors and their practitioners respond to GBV in Ecuador. CVA has not yet been systematically leveraged to meet the needs of GBV survivors and those at risk (GBV clients). Previous work by CARE has focused on GBV prevention and mitigation in support of local government, women’s rights organizations, and civil society strengthening local policies and frameworks; these efforts will be complemented by this project’s focus on GBV response.
This learning brief was made possible by funding support from the Government of Sweden provided through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Read More...
This project, which spanned September to December 2019, serves as an opportunity to model comprehensive GBV case management in the face of high rates of GBV and to influence how humanitarian and development sectors and their practitioners respond to GBV in Ecuador. CVA has not yet been systematically leveraged to meet the needs of GBV survivors and those at risk (GBV clients). Previous work by CARE has focused on GBV prevention and mitigation in support of local government, women’s rights organizations, and civil society strengthening local policies and frameworks; these efforts will be complemented by this project’s focus on GBV response.
This learning brief was made possible by funding support from the Government of Sweden provided through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Read More...
Cash and Voucher Assistance that Works for Women: 6 Lessons from the Field
A brief summary from a multi-country study on "what does gender-sensitive cash and voucher assistance look like?".
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
Cash and Voucher Assistance that Works for Women: 6 Lessons from the Field
A brief summary from a multi-country study on "what does gender-sensitive cash and voucher assistance look like?".
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
Cash and Voucher Assistance that Works for Women: 6 Lessons from the Field
A brief summary from a multi-country study on "what does gender-sensitive cash and voucher assistance look like?".
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
Cash and Voucher Assistance that Works for Women: 6 Lessons from the Field
A brief summary from a multi-country study on "what does gender-sensitive cash and voucher assistance look like?".
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
The study adopted a user-centric approach to data collection. This ensured consistent reflection with crisis-affected people throughout the process and increased our ability to capture complexity and enhance accountability. Read More...
Addressing Food Crisis in Yemen
In 2017, in response to the one of the world's worst manmade crises, a consortium of CARE and Action Contra La Faim (ACF) implemented a EU-Funded Multi-Purpose Cash program in Abyan and Amran governorates with a mean aim of enhancing food security (FS) as well as supporting livelihood activities, savings groups and the resilience of communities with the rehabilitation of critical community-identified shared assets. The program design was aligned to the Humanitarian Development Nexus framework, which focuses on a shift from supplying humanitarian assistance to those who need it, to reducing the demand for humanitarian assistance by addressing the root causes.
This report presents the evaluation findings from the project during over its full implementation period (October 2017- February 2019) in the targeted areas. It uses the DAC Evaluation Criteria: Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact and Sustainability. It also provides insight on the internal and external factors influencing the achievement (or non-achievement) of the project objectives. The analysis should inform decisions about replicating interventions, draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the implementation strategies, highlight lessons learned and lead to recommendations to inform future programming and policymaking. Read More...
This report presents the evaluation findings from the project during over its full implementation period (October 2017- February 2019) in the targeted areas. It uses the DAC Evaluation Criteria: Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Impact and Sustainability. It also provides insight on the internal and external factors influencing the achievement (or non-achievement) of the project objectives. The analysis should inform decisions about replicating interventions, draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the implementation strategies, highlight lessons learned and lead to recommendations to inform future programming and policymaking. Read More...