Strengthening Cash-Based Programmes in Sri Lanka

On 8 June, the United Nations hosted a Learning Workshop on cash-based programmes in Sri Lanka. Led by the Sri Lanka Cash Working Group (CWG) and supported by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator (RCO), the workshop served as a platform for consolidating knowledge and strengthening coordination for cash-based interventions amid the country's multidimensional crisis.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders such as UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs and Financial Service Providers (FSP) involved in cash programming, coordination, and delivery mechanisms to evaluate past operations, identify areas for improvement, and develop priority preparedness actions for the CWG and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT).

Last year, Sri Lanka grappled with an economic crisis characterized by rising inflation, unemployment, and deteriorating living standards. The impact of the crisis has been particularly difficult for vulnerable households, intensifying their struggle to meet basic needs. In response to these pressing challenges, the United Nations launched the Humanitarian Needs Priorities plan (HNP) in June 2022, which aimed to facilitate coordinated and targeted humanitarian interventions in support of the most vulnerable communities in the country. The HNP was developed and implemented with the surge support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which played a key role alongside the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka in ensuring a timely and effective response. 

Cash transfers, complemented by in-kind support and services, emerged as a vital tool in addressing the immediate needs of vulnerable households during the crisis. By providing cash assistance, the HCT sought to preserve livelihoods and empower individuals by maintaining their purchasing power and upholding their dignity in daily decision-making processes. As of March 2023, some 1,246,000 people had received in kind food or cash and voucher assistance to help them meet their daily needs.

The CWG, composed of national and international actors, was re-established in June 2022 to drive the implementation of the HNP and integrate ongoing programmes. With the WFP, UNICEF, and Save the Children as programmatic co-chairs as well as RCO and OCHA coordination and expertise, the CWG supported the development of the HNP by providing a platform for collaboration and coordination around common priorities, harmonizing targeted transfer values and supporting linkages with the government’s response and social protection system.

Advisory support to the CWG is provided by Ricardo Lobo, a cash programming expert deployed by CashCap/ NORCAP through the Standby Partnership Network. Ricardo was first deployed last year during the peak of the crisis and placed at WFP, where he worked mostly on coordination for the emergency response phase. In 2023, he returned for a second assignment where he is placed directly in the RCO to focus on longer-term capacity-building and humanitarian-development nexus analysis.

"The workshop held by the Cash Working Group was a great opportunity to obtain an overview of updated information related to cash transfer programmes within different organizations, and to enhance knowledge about the role of FSP in cash transfer programming”, said Udari Samarakoon, Project Manager at Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

While the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka has improved in recent months, the United Nations maintains its humanitarian programming, recognizing the importance of sustained assistance for vulnerable communities. The Learning Workshop served as a platform for knowledge sharing, coordination, and capacity-building for cash-programming. By bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders, the CWG aimed to enhance preparedness and response efforts, ensuring a more effective and efficient humanitarian response.

“It was a lucrative event that improved the understanding of CVA interventions in the humanitarian response and their integration of various sectors to maximize the impact. Also, it was great to showcase the operational capacities of partners and way of collaboration and complementing the synergies among CVA Actors”, said Aneel Memon, Cash and Voucher Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 

“Participating in the training was incredibly valuable because we had the opportunity to learn from like-minded organizations as well as systems and processes of INGOs. During the group discussions, I gained insight into different perspectives on how to implement Cash Voucher Assistance and discovered ways to improve in future projects”, said Turin Anbalagan, Programme Coordinator at LEADS Sri Lanka.

The workshop resulted in the formulation of recommendations for cash preparedness actions of the CWG and other stakeholders. Harmonization of transfer values, market monitoring, community engagement and delivery mechanism platforms were key areas of consideration. Participants emphasized the need to develop a detailed timeframe for various stages of a humanitarian response, as well as enhancing the use of evidence-based research prior to response interventions to ensure that the most adequate and effective response modality is adopted. Stakeholders involved in implementing development programmes were encouraged to join the CWG in order to more effectively coordinate and exchange opportunities for cash and voucher assistance within a wider variety of sectors.