The Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) encompasses all programs that provide cash transfers or vouchers for goods or services directly to recipients. In the context of humanitarian assistance, this term specifically refers to the distribution of cash transfers or vouchers to individuals, households, or community recipients, rather than to governments or other state actors.
Humanitarian cash transfers are payments made in the form of physical currency or e-cash that can be used to address humanitarian needs in any type of emergency. They are a cost-effective way of quickly getting support to those who need it most. The overall cost of delivering cash assistance is often lower than in-kind assistance, meaning more people can be reached.
Cash transfers also empower people to make decisions based on their individual situation, allowing recipients to meet their basic needs and restart their livelihoods in a dignified and respectful way. Plus, because the money households receive is spent in local markets, humanitarian cash transfers support communities and stimulate local economies.
Watch UNICEF’s video to have Humanitarian Cash Transfers explained!
Humanitarian cash transfers complement various services and ensure that all needs are met across different sectors of intervention. Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) significantly influences nutrition in numerous ways. While these effects may vary by context, they enhance the nutrition of women and children by improving dietary diversity and consumption among household members. Additionally, CVA supports better caregiving for vulnerable groups, including children under two and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Furthermore, CVA promotes the utilization of health and nutrition services and helps sustain income throughout the year, thereby reducing reliance on negative coping strategies.
Go to the CaLP website to get most recent guidance and country examples.
Learn more in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in humanitarian coordination eLearning course.
Check if there is a functioning Cash Working Group in your country/regions and get in touch HERE!
Stay tuned for more CVA tools and resources on the GNC Nutrition and CVA Webpage!
Key tools and resources
Evidence and Guidance Note on the Use of Cash and Voucher Assistance for Nutrition Outcomes in Emergencies English/Français/Español Guidance Brief: How to Incorporate Cash and Voucher Assistance into a Nutrition response English/Français/Español/ العربية Glossary of CVA Terms English/Français/Español/ العربية | Making Cash Transfers Safer and more Accountable for Women and Children (CVA and GBV by UNICEF 2021) English Cost of Diet Practitioners guide English/Français A Roadmap to impactful cash plus programmes with Social and Behavior Change (a tool by UNICEF 2024) English |
Download everything about CVA for nutrition HERE
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