Cash Coordination in protracted crisis Geneva 5.5.15 Goma Cash Working Group DR Congo Gabriele Erba UNICEF, Emergency Specialist Acting ARCC Coordinator
Content 1. Context DRC CWG History 2. Mandate and Objectives 3. Coordination Mechanism Members Last Quarter Achievements Activity Info 4. Challenges 5. Recommendations
1. Context DRC >20 Years Emergency 56 Recognized Armed Groups MONUSCO FIB 2.4 M IDPs => 80% in host families 1.4 M Returnees HRP 2015 => 692 M $ 13.2M Multipurpose Cash (1.9%) 140 M Cash/Vouchers Food (20%)
CWG History (1) 2004 first seed fair voucher in RDC 2005 first pilot by CRS in Kindu. Cash instead of kits 2008 first NFI voucher fair Basic services integrated in multisector faire 2011 first unconditio nal transfers PO, SK, NK
CWG History (2) CARE and WFP : First DRC Cash & Voucher Working Group within FS Cluster CVWG s members: How to extend cash knowledge to other sectors? CARE, OXFAM, UNICEF first contact with CaLP. First CaLP1 training in Goma. UNICEF&CaLP learning event in Goma Nov. 2011 Cash Learning Event recommendation: To set up a multi-sectoral working group on topics including: market research, risk analysis and gender and monitoring and evaluation.
CWG History (3) Multi-Sector/ Multi-Purpose August 2012 - August 2013 August 2014 - September October 2014 CARE-led Goma based ECHO funding Workshop to boost technical learning on cash => CaLP The CWG established a steering committee UNICEF, Concern and Diakonie NO designated funding only synergies with current programmes Presentation of the renewed group to the different clusters in Goma and intercluster How do we coordinate /integrate with the formal humanitarian coordination system? Cash it s a means not an end. Too transversal. Doesn t fit under any Cluster. Therefore no formal integration.
2. Mandate and Objective The CWG is a space for exchange and learning established by the will of humanitarian actors using the monetary approach to support their programming and enhance the technical nature of their interventions. The CWG is to provide technical support to its members through thematic discussions of common concern and through the facilitation of the exchange of experiences between the actors of cash assistance in eastern DRC. The CWG will be in contact with CaLP, platform for exchange and research on cash assistance at the regional level, based in Nairobi an. And facilitate the [international] exchange and sharing of information and experience, especially in these sectors where financial assistance is for the less common: education, health and WASH. The CWG is to improve the quality of interventions and strengthening of capacities of humanitarian actors on C & V procedures and facilitate the coordination mechanism between stakeholders in the cash assistance (humanitarian actors, private sector actors, government and beneficiary communities institutions).
Specific Objectives - Providing a platform for exchange of experience, analysis, best practices and tools around the monetary assistance to stakeholders; - Facilitate discussion and encourage capacity building of stakeholders involved in the cash assistance; - Encourage the debate and exchange with the private sector; - Provide technical guidance to stakeholders in monetary assistance; - Organize surveys on common themes of interest; - Capture and disseminate learning - areas where lessons will be captured, documented and shared; - Make available information on transfer mechanisms, encourage debate and identify areas for innovation and development where possible; - Make available the findings of studies and evaluations - to maximize the collection of information and minimize duplication.
3. Coordination Mechanism The steering committee will rotate on a quarterly basis. a) Three organizations to provide the leadership through a steering committee which shall either be confirmed or re-elected by its members every three months. b) Working Group Meetings will be held once a month on the last Friday of the month at 11am. c) Co-facilitators meet once a month in advance of the meeting of the group. The communication mechanism. Focal person contact cwg.goma@gmail.com Dedicated page on CaLP (http://www.cashlearning.org/rdc-drc/rdc-1 since March 2015)
Members
Last Quarter Achievements Thematic discussions on Protection in CBI and Communication Presentation of Private Sector (MNOs) transfers products (e.g. Cash Point Map Zone East and Tariffs Comparison) Study on Purchasing/expenditure Patterns by ARCCII and PAM Activity Info Multipurpose Indicator Development
4. Challenges (1) Complementary to the formal coordination system Poor acceptance of demand-driven solution cash resistant mentality is still present ( cash is mismanaged, has more protection issues, is more difficult, accountability-wise there is more risk) Communication effort needed Limited geographic extension Substandard private sector capacity Mobile money still lagging behind
4. Challenges (2) No participation by OCHA nor the government No guaranteed continuity of the body Lack of dedicated permanent staff Preference to sectorialize Multi-Purpose Cash Resistance to include multipurpose cash as is in HRP 2015 Language barrier for local focal point and CaLP Nairobi
5. Recommendations 1. Dedicated resources for: Better and more diversified communication for planning and reporting - Formal link with OCHA to formalize planning and reporting Continuity of the initiative 2. Increased integration in the formal coordination system
5. Recommendations (2) 1. Expansion of the groups activities to other provinces of the eastern and southern zone 2. Keep the election-based steering committee 3. Promote continuous learning through planned and predictable training and evaluation 4. Better use of current channels to share widespread sound evidence on CBI to provide answers to cash skeptical.
Questions? Thank You!