E-Transfers in Emergencies: Implementation Support Guidelines
These guidelines are intended for the field practitioners of aid agencies engaged in humanitarian responses incorporating cash transfers
Abstract
Electronic transfers, or e-transfers, are a form of value transfer that relies on digital payment systems. The great many benefits they can realise for aid recipients and aid agencies alike in terms of increased security, convenience, privacy, speed, reduced operational/transaction costs and logistics, etc. have been widely documented. Equally, many aid agencies have experienced challenges in implementing e-transfers, including in relation to mobile network coverage and reliability, the presence of e-transfer agents, liquidity constraints and low education levels among beneficiaries. Learning from and responding to these challenges is essential.
Following recommendations made in Cash Learning Partnership research in 2011 on e-transfers ‘New technologies in cash transfer programming and humanitarian assistance’ and demonstrated interest from the CaLP community of practice; CaLP has undertaken an additional three pieces of work in this thematic area in 2013, of which this is one. The other two pieces include the development of “Principles and operational standards for the secure use of personal data in cash and e-transfer programmes” and a study of factors affecting the cost-efficiency of e-transfers compared to more manual methods.
These “E-transfers in Emergencies: Implementation Support Guidelines” are intended for the field practitioners of aid agencies engaged in humanitarian responses incorporating cash transfers to be delivered through digital payment systems as well as their extended teams in management and programme support functions.
Citation
Sossouvi, K (2013) ‘E-Transfers in Emergencies: Implementation Support Guidelines’. London: Cash Learning Partnership
Link
E-Transfers in Emergencies: Implementation Support Guidelines