Cash transfers are now a standard way to deliver humanitarian aid and social protection, but they carry a distinct set of risks that differ from in-kind distribution. Funds can be diverted, lists manipulated, vulnerable people excluded and personal data exposed through poorly managed platforms. A single serious loss can lead to suspended funding and a loss of trust with communities.

This programme treats risk management as part of programme design, not an audit afterthought. Participants begin with the cash delivery cycle and identify where risks arise at each step. They then learn how to score and prioritise risks, choose delivery mechanisms such as bank transfers, mobile money, prepaid cards and e-vouchers, and carry out due diligence on providers and vendors. The central days cover internal controls, fraud prevention and response, protection and safeguarding concerns, gender and inclusion, and the principles of responsible data handling. The final sessions look at monitoring, risk reporting to donors and learning from incidents.

Training combines facilitator input with practical exercises on realistic scenarios drawn from emergency and recovery programmes. Participants leave with a draft risk register and mitigation plan for a programme of their own choosing.

After the course, participants will be able to:

• Map the cash and voucher delivery cycle and locate the risks at each stage.
• Build, score and maintain a programme risk register with clear owners and mitigations.
• Compare delivery mechanisms and assess their risk profile in a given context.
• Carry out due diligence on financial service providers and vendors.
• Design controls for targeting, registration, verification and reconciliation.
• Prevent, detect and respond to fraud, diversion and corruption.
• Integrate protection, gender and data protection safeguards into programme design.
• Report risks and incidents to management and donors.

The course is designed for staff who design, run, fund or check cash-based programmes, such as:

• Cash and voucher assistance programme managers
• Finance, grants and compliance officers in humanitarian agencies
• Internal auditors and risk advisers in NGOs
• Monitoring, evaluation and accountability officers
• Field coordinators and area managers
• Social protection officers in government
• Donor programme and grant officers
• Logistics and procurement staff managing vendor networks

By the close of the course, participants will have:

• A tailored risk register for a cash programme with scored risks and mitigations.
• A financial service provider assessment checklist.
• A control matrix covering each step of the delivery cycle.
• A fraud response protocol with escalation steps.
• A data protection and consent checklist for beneficiary information.
• A risk reporting template suited to donor requirements.

Training is scenario-led and tied to the cash cycle. It includes:

• Field scenarios from emergency, recovery and social protection programmes
• Risk register workshops in small groups
• Control-design clinics on payment and vendor processes
• A simulated fraud allegation and response drill
• Sharing of participants’ own programme experiences

Participants who take part in every session and complete the exercises receive a Certificate of Completion from Vision Reach Global Consultancy, carrying CPD accreditation. The certificate confirms attendance and demonstrated practical application of the course material.