WFP Evidence Summary. Cash-based transfers: lessons from evaluations

Cash is an increasing part of WFP’s global portfolio. In 2019, WFP transferred US$ 2.1 billion to nearly 28 million people in 64 countries across the world - 38 percent of total assistance.

The Office of Evaluation has commissioned this note to share the learning from WFP-commissioned evaluations, as well as the wider inter-agency humanitarian evaluation system. The evaluations were published between 2014 and 2020. They address both conditional and unconditional cash transfers, using cash, voucher and combined modalities. The evaluations took place in many countries, including Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, El Salvador, Guatemala, Somalia and others.

This note provides twelve key lessons to help enhance the positive effects of cash-based programmes, and to reduce any risks which might impede effectiveness. It also identifies six main effects of cash transfer programmes implemented by WFP.