Cash and voucher assistance now accounts for a growing share of humanitarian response, and donors expect it to be considered first wherever markets function. Yet programmes still struggle with delayed payments, exclusion errors, diversion, duplicate registration and weak coordination between agencies. Advanced practitioners need to move beyond the basics of cash toward systems that are scalable, accountable and connected to national social protection.

This programme addresses the full programme cycle. It starts with response analysis, market assessment and the choice between cash, vouchers and in-kind support, then covers targeting, transfer value setting, and multi-purpose and sector-specific cash. Participants go on to examine delivery mechanisms and contracting with financial service providers, data management and protection, risk registers, anti-fraud controls and complaint handling. The final sessions focus on monitoring, evaluation, cost-efficiency measurement and the link between humanitarian cash and shock-responsive safety nets.

The approach relies on case material from drought, displacement and urban crises, plus templates for feasibility studies and financial service provider selection. Each participant produces a draft cash response plan that reflects their organisation's context.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Conduct response analysis that justifies cash, vouchers or in-kind assistance.
• Assess market functionality and set transfer values using a minimum expenditure basket.
• Compare delivery mechanisms and select a financial service provider through a transparent process.
• Design targeting, registration and data protection arrangements that limit exclusion and misuse.
• Build a risk register and fraud controls for each stage of a cash programme.
• Coordinate multi-purpose cash with other agencies and national social protection systems.
• Evaluate outcomes, cost-efficiency and beneficiary satisfaction.

The course is aimed at practitioners with some experience of cash programming, including:

• Cash and voucher assistance programme managers
• Humanitarian programme and field coordinators
• Cash working group and sector coordination staff
• Finance, audit and compliance officers in NGOs and UN agencies
• Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning specialists
• Social protection officers in government
• Donor programme officers and technical advisers
• Mobile money and financial service provider account managers working with humanitarian clients

Participants complete the course with:

• A response analysis and feasibility template ready for field use.
• A worked transfer value calculation based on a minimum expenditure basket.
• A scoring sheet for comparing delivery mechanisms and service providers.
• A cash programme risk register with mitigation measures.
• A post-distribution monitoring questionnaire and indicator set.
• A draft cash response plan for their own context.

The course is designed for experienced practitioners and is highly participatory. It includes:

• Case studies from drought, conflict displacement and urban crisis responses
• Spreadsheet work on transfer values and cost-efficiency
• Role-played provider negotiations and proposal scoring
• Simulated fraud investigation and corrective action planning
• Peer clinics where participants test their own programme designs

Participants who take part in all sessions and complete the group and individual exercises will be issued a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.