Cash technology
Digital technology has the potential to transform the way in which cash programmes operate. Mobile payment platforms are already demonstrating how new technologies can have a great impact on efficiencies and convenience for people receiving cash assistance. This is just one example of the potential for the use of technology in this sector.

© Pierre Grandidier / IFRC
For more information on specific areas of innovation in cash technology, see the following:
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22 May 2023
Vertical integration: Sharing data on a person with a payments or messaging provider to extend services
Type:
ReportOrganization:
ECHO, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, NRC, Save the ChildrenThe growth in CVA programming is enabled by the increasing adoption of mobile phones, which facilitate registration, information sharing, and payments for CVA. This use case focuses on sharing data on a person with a third party that is contracted to provide a payments or messaging-related service.
22 May 2023
Individual referral: Sharing data on a person with a partner, donor or government for follow-up services
Type:
ReportOrganization:
ECHO, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, NRC, Save the ChildrenIn many cases organizations collect and hold sensitive personal data on the people they are supporting. This may include names, addresses, phone numbers, biometric data, bank account information and an assessment of their needs and vulnerability. Separate to the challenges of an organization managing this data responsibility, there are also circumstances where it may be necessary to share this data with other organizations. This use case considers cases where data may need to be shared to enable continuity of services, enable integrated programming, provide protection referrals, manage complaints, respond to donor audit requirements or in response to requests (or demands) from governments (or other authorities).
22 May 2023
Organizational referral: Sharing data on which organisations can provide what kind of support to whom
Type:
LearningOrganization:
ECHO, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, NRC, Save the ChildrenHumanitarian Outcomes estimates that there were around 5,000 organizations in the humanitarian system in 2021. These figures are likely an underestimate, particularly if we include the role played by local organizations in relation to protection referrals and referrals for other types of humanitarian services. The rapid increase in the use of multipurpose cash as a modality presents a challenge to the sectoral approach to coordination. This use case explores the demand for greater interoperability and/or sharing of data on which organizations can provide what kind of assistance to which people.
22 May 2023
Deduplication of People, Families or Households
Type:
ReportOrganization:
ECHO, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, NRC, Save the ChildrenAdoption of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) by the humanitarian community has consistently increased over the last six years. It is likely that the numbers will continue to grow. With large transfer volumes, even a small fraction of duplicate payments may add up to large sums of money with high opportunity costs. In practical terms this means that some people in urgent need of support may not be assisted due to the limited resources available. This use case explores the challenge of ensuring organizations do not duplicate assistance or create gaps in supporting eligible people, families or households.
22 May 2023
Enabling dignified humanitarian assistance through safe data sharing landscape mapping
Type:
LearningOrganization:
ECHO, IFRC, Norwegian Red Cross, NRC, Save the ChildrenThe landscape mapping report is divided into five separate reports. The overview report covers high-level drivers and challenges, opportunities for improving the interoperability of systems and data sharing in the context of cash and voucher assistance (CVA). The four separate ‘use case’ reports (in the ‘same Projects’ block) relate to ‘pain points’ in the overall CVA business process.
27 March 2023
Uganda: Dignified Identity in cash assistance to flood affected women in Bukedea District
Type:
VideoOrganization:
IFRC, Uganda Red CrossThe Uganda Red Cross and the IFRC, with support from the Dignified Identity in Cash Assistance (DIGID) Consortium, explored opportunities and risks of digital credentials to establish eligibility for cash assistance in the context of migration for internally displaced people affected by floods in Bukedea district, Uganda.
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