Funded by
Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP)
Following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, humanitarian agencies rapidly put in place a large-scale humanitarian response. Preliminary evaluations of the markets, and Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA) showed that, though the markets had been badly affected by the earthquake, they had the potential to respond to the needs of the communities affected by the disaster. As a consequence, humanitarian agencies implemented Cash Transfer Programmes (CTPs) to respond to the immediate needs of victims, in a variety of forms (initially, Cash-for-work programmes, but also food voucher and direct cash transfer programmes) and using a variety of mechanisms for providing the money. Due to the scale of the disaster, it was soon clear that these cash transfer programmes needed to be coordinated.
The Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) was a catalyst in launching this discussion between humanitarian organizations in Haiti. With funding and human resources provided by several organizations, a coordination mechanism for cash-based programmes in Haiti was set up in early 2010.
This coordination mechanism has made it possible to: develop a database of information on CTPs implemented by agencies; build the capacity of staff working on CTPs; pool and share good practices within the coordination group; establish links with the United Nations clusters in order to ensure better coordination; and, facilitate discussion and debate about CTPs in the country.
The CaLP has chosen Groupe URD to carry out a study in order to:
- Review and document the inter-agency coordination mechanism for cash transfer programmes in Haiti;
- Learn lessons to improve coordination of these programmes in future emergencies;
- Support the development of the CaLP’s advocacy strategy.