The transformative effect of cash and voucher assistance experienced by humanitarian organizations

Holm-Nielsen, P.V.; Raju, Emmanuel; Furu, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103238

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The findings in this study indicate that localisation in CVA in Kenya is in a continuous process of development and that the humanitarian system needs for a radical change instead of incremental changes as have taken place so far (Holm-Nielsen et al 2022). While there are changes, there is significant scope for improvements (Bennett et al 2016) (Collison 2016).…”

Section: Localisation and Cash And Voucher Assistance In Kenyamentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Studies have expressed concern that the current and future models of CVA implementation may work against the localisation agenda (Lewis 2021 ) and that innovation in CVA approaches may be limited by the conformity of humanitarian organisations (Monich, Holm-Nielsen & Raju 2023 ). Reasons include the unification of CVA implementation into one single agency or consortia (Holm-Nielsen et al 2022 ), the technological divide that the development of fintech may introduce in the future (Doocy & Tappis 2017 ), the unbalanced level of capacities between international and LOs when it comes to CVA programmatic design (Lewis 2021 ) and the overwhelming power of international organisations and companies compared to its national counterparts (Bennett, Foley & Pantuliano 2016 ; Haakenstad et al 2018 ). For this reason, the study of the influence of CVA on localisation has to rely on the existing analysis of the operationalisation of localisation.…”

Section: Cash Assistance In a Localisation Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Donors have indicated difficulties in channelling funds directly to LOs due to a lack of absorption and monitoring capabilities. Therefore, their preference is to work with a large partner on a localisation approach (Holm-Nielsen et al 2022 ). Further, an important aspect of localisation is capacity development (Lewis 2021 ).…”

Section: Conceptual Framework For Localisation and Cash And Voucher A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its benefits and challenges have been shown in research and practice (Smith et al 2018 ; Spiegel 2015 ; Tappis & Doocy 2018 ) as well as in the needed conditions for implementation (Doocy & Tappis 2017 ; Kreidler & Rieger 2022 ). It is expected that the modality of aid delivery in disaster response will keep increasing its relevance and significance in the future (Keith et al 2020 ) by changing the humanitarian sector and the relationships between humanitarian actors (Harvey & Bailey 2015 ; Holm-Nielsen et al 2022 ). This is crucial in the light of the Grand Bargain (IASC 2019 ), where humanitarian organisations have committed to the Localisation Agenda to serve people affected by disasters in a more context-appropriate manner (Apthorpe & Borton 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kenya is also a country where innovative CVA implementation has been piloted (Oliveros 2018 ). In Kenya, like in other contexts, there is a trend by donors to concentrate CVA programmes in a consortium of INGOs, arguing increased cost efficiency (Holm-Nielsen et al 2022 ). It has been questioned whether this trend works against the localisation agenda (Lewis 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of cash assistance on the localisation agenda in Kenya’s humanitarian sector

Holm-Nielsen,

Furu,

Raju

2023

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies

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Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) has gained importance as a modality for humanitarian disaster response during the last decade. Research has documented its benefits and listed challenges for implementation. Simultaneously, humanitarian organisations have committed to the localisation agenda to better serve people affected by disasters through local actors. These two ongoing transformations in the humanitarian sector may support or challenge each other. The authors use Kenya as a case study to analyse how CVA influences the localisation agenda in the humanitarian sector. Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with national and international organisations to gain insights on how the international organisations and their local implementing partners view and experience the mutual support or potential tensions between CVA implementations and the localisation agenda. The analysis is based on seven dimensions of localisation applied to CVA in Kenya based on existing frameworks. The findings indicate that CVA can support the localisation agenda if properly managed. It provides smaller organisations an opportunity to get involved without expensive structures. International organisations need to redefine their role and withdraw from direct implementation and be willing to give up power. The local organisations benefit from forming national networks that give them a voice within the humanitarian system. These transformations rely on personal leadership and on capacity development focusing on coordination, collaboration and organisational strengthening beyond the technical skills needed for implementation.Contribution: This study identifies how CVA and the localisation agenda affect each other in Kenya. This contributes to the understanding of the future development of the humanitarian sector.

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Section: Localisation and Cash And Voucher Assistance In Kenyamentioning

confidence: 82%