FAO Example of Shock-Responsive and Risk-Informed Social Protection
Social assistance plays an important role in helping affected people to cope with the shock.
Box 21: Example of Cash Transfer (IFRC, 2012)Social assistance plays an important role in helping affected people to cope with the shock.
Cash transfers are particularly well suited to situations where employment, income, livelihood or economic production opportunities have been lost or disrupted as they allow people to obtain goods and services of their choice directly from markets (if they are operational) for meeting basic needs and asset replacement.
The use of cash transfers should be determined based on a needs assessment, the kind of cash modalities, and delivery mechanism. Cash interventions are often insufficient on their own and can be combined with other forms of assistance.
Cash can be delivered to individuals, households, groups and whole communities through, for e.g.:
- Unconditional transfers with no stipulations as to how the money is to be used.
- Conditional transfers with requirements for the money to be spent in a certain way.
- Commodity or cash vouchers detailing the items and services that the recipient can buy.
- Cash for work (payment for work involving community services or infrastructure).