How is social protection connected to Cash and Voucher Assistance

In our previous article, we introduced the concept of social protection. In this article, we explore the connections between social protection and Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). We discuss strategies, benefits, and key factors for effectively integrating CVA with social protection programs. We further look into a case study examining the implementation of this linkage between humanitarian and social protection efforts.

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When considering the integration of CVA with social protection, it’s crucial to understand that while both approaches aim to support vulnerable populations, they operate in different environments and under different systems. Humanitarian assistance, which includes CVA, is typically provided in emergency situations to address immediate needs caused by crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, or economic shocks. In contrast, social protection programs are usually part of long-term government strategies designed to provide ongoing support and enhance the resilience of vulnerable groups over time.

These differences can influence the suitability of linking humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance with social protection programs. Therefore, a thorough assessment of the similarities, differences, and challenges between these sectors is essential before pursuing any linkage.

Strategies to enhance the connection between CVA and social protection

There are several strategies for enhancing the connection between social protection and humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance. The most appropriate approach depends on the unique context of each situation. When disasters happen, connecting or aligning humanitarian CVA with existing government-run social protection programmes can improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Design tweaks: These changes focus on improving how help is provided. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain interventions have adapted or eliminated conditionalities to broaden access to social assistance for those in need.

  • Piggybacking: Another method to strengthen the connection between social protection and humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is through piggybacking. In this approach, humanitarian operations utilize elements of existing social protection interventions. This may involve leveraging established cash delivery mechanisms already familiar to and utilized by the population, as well as utilizing existing databases to identify vulnerable individuals even prior to emergencies.

  • Vertical expansion: This is another strategy that involves temporarily enhancing the value or duration of benefits for individuals already receiving social support but facing additional needs due to new circumstances or shocks like natural disasters or wars.

  • Horizontal expansion: It involves broadening program coverage to include new recipients not typically part of the social protection program but now in need due to specific circumstances or shocks.

Linking social protection and CVA encompasses a variety of strategies customized to the context of each emergency or crisis.

Benefits of linking CVA and social protection

Linking Cash and Voucher Assistance with social protection programs offer benefits that enhance both immediate response and long-term support for vulnerable populations:

  • Short term: Social protection programs, often managed by government administrative processes, institutions, and data systems, possess several advantages. Firstly, they benefit from extensive reach, as government agencies can distribute assistance nationwide through national, state, or local governments. Leveraging existing structures ensures speed in reaching beneficiaries, as there's no need to create new systems from scratch. Additionally, utilizing government-established infrastructure enhances cost-effectiveness.

  • Long term: In the long term, integrating humanitarian assistance into broader social protection frameworks leads to system strengthening and lasting impacts. Additionally, it promotes capacity building, community resilience, and preparedness for future crises. By improving existing permanent and stable social protection systems, we create a foundation for lasting solutions.

Factors influencing effective coordination of CVA and social protection

There are several factors enabling the effective coordination of CVA and social protection.

Achieving effective social protection necessitates collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders, with the government playing a central role as the duty bearer. Adequate inclusion, ownership, and leadership by the government are essential for successful implementation.

As the primary responsibility for social protection lies with the government, its commitment to inclusive leadership ensures policies and programs address the needs of all segments of society, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized, while also allowing flexibility for other partners to contribute. Political will among development and humanitarian actors, governments, agencies, and NGOs is crucial for success. Additionally, it is critical to reach a compromise between stakeholders across mandates and disciplines, especially regarding targeting, coverage, and adequacy of social protection interventions.

Different stakeholders might have varying priorities or approaches, so it’s important to negotiate and reach agreement to ensure that social protection programs effectively meet the needs of those they aim to help. Preparedness, allowing for sufficient time depending on the context, is also crucial.

Lastly, dedicating resources for coordination is essential for effective support and collaboration, ensuring that social protection efforts are well-coordinated across various stakeholders and sectors. This includes allocating financial resources, human capital, and organizational support to facilitate planning, monitoring, and evaluation of social protection programs in relation to CVA.

Perceived barriers to linking CVA and social protection

According to the State of the World Cash Report in 2023, despite the recognized effectiveness of linking CVA and social protection, there are still some barriers. Firstly, there's a notable lack of coordination among the various actors involved in both humanitarian and social protection sectors. This lack of coordination leads to fragmented efforts and hampers the synergistic potential of combining CVA with social protection mechanisms.

Another barrier is the limited technical capacity of humanitarian staff to effectively engage with social protection institutions and programming. This deficiency in technical expertise presents a significant challenge in bridging the gap. Similarly, the report also emphasizes the limited technical capacity of social protection staff to engage with humanitarian response efforts.

The case of Ukraine

As highlighted in a report by the CALP network, Ukraine has a well developed social protection system, supported by a strong financial infrastructure and a variety of digital technologies. This solid foundation categorizes it as having a mature social protection system.

Despite the strong willingness of the government and the significant funding available following the 2022 invasion, international humanitarian actors encountered challenges in linking the existing system even seven months into the response. The identified barriers included the preparedness and capacity of humanitarian actors, data sharing difficulties due to extensive data held by government social protection systems, and challenges in coordination.

While a country working group was established in Ukraine with a task team on social protection, linkages between humanitarian and social protection were lacking due to limited government and donor engagement with the working group. This constraint hindered planning for the broader transition of humanitarian-led Cash and Voucher Assistance to the social protection system. To address these challenges, a high-level coordination forum was assembled with senior decision-makers from humanitarian, development, and government stakeholders to facilitate control over the transition process.

Conclusion

When integrating CVA with social protection, it's essential to recognize the different contexts in which these approaches function. Humanitarian assistance, typically used in emergencies, contrasts sharply with social protection programs that are part of long-term government strategies. To achieve effective integration, understanding both the similarities and differences, as well as the challenges, is crucial. There are various strategies for enhancing this integration, offering benefits both in the short term and long term for vulnerable populations. Successful integration requires effective coordination among stakeholders, strong government commitment, and proper resource allocation. The challenges encountered in Ukraine highlight the complexities involved but also emphasize the need for strategic planning and collaboration to successfully merge humanitarian and social protection efforts.

Did you know that you can use ActivityInfo to track CVA projects and activities? You can try out the Cash Based Interventions template.

Sources and further readings