Linking CVA with Social Protection
Social Protection plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and inequality, while supporting inclusive growth. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that improved alignment and integration between social assistance and humanitarian cash and voucher assistance (CVA), which are often delivered through parallel systems, can contribute to a more comprehensive and effective response. Effectively achieving this goal will require increased coordination between humanitarian and development actors.
Social Protection...
...is a «(…) set of public and private initiatives designed to support all people across the life cycle, providing protection against social and economic risks and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. Well-designed social protection systems ensure a minimum income and equitable access to essential services for the poor and vulnerable and enable people to cope with shocks. Social protection both prevents people from falling into acute poverty and enables sustainable escape out of poverty»
SDC (2023) Working Aid Strengthening Social Protection.
Table of Entry Points for linking Social Protection to Emergency Relief
Swiss Secondment Missions: CVA and Social Protection
Members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit's Expert Group Cash have increasingly been involved in the area of linking humanitarian CVA with Social Protection. Deployments encompassed a variety of key positions with partner organisations, such as:
- Programme Policy Officer in Sri Lanka at WFP
- Senior Advisor (Cash and Social Protection) in Switzerland at IOM
- Cash Transfer Specialist (Shock Responsive Social Protection) in Albania at UNICEF
- Senior Advisor on Social Protection and Livelihoods in Bangladesh at UNICEF
- CBT Social Protection Programme Officer in Sri Lanka at WFP
Resources on CVA and Social Protection
Learning Brief - linking Social Assistance and humanitarian Cash
Authored by André Dürr in February 2021, this document explores linking social assistance (SA) and humanitarian cash assistance (HCA) in Jordan. It underscores the growing importance of cash transfers in addressing poverty and crises, especially in contexts of chronic poverty, conflict, and displacement. Focused on Jordan, it delves into the cash transfer landscape, operational actors, and efforts to modernise the National Aid Fund (NAF). The conclusion highlights potential benefits of linking SA and HCA, emphasising context-specific decision-making.
Learning Brief - Mainstreaming Social Protection into programmes delivery and operations
This document, authored by Natacha Pugin, a SHA (Swiss Humanitarian Aid) member, shares insights from her secondment to WFP in Sri Lanka (September 2019–March 2022). Focused on integrating social protection into operations, it discusses challenges and opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief emphasises the importance of aligning social protection with broader development goals and concludes with recommendations for strengthening resilience and addressing vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka.
SDC Podcast Why Care?: «Cash is King» – auch in der humanitären Hilfe? (18.12.2024) (only available in german)
Stefan Bumbacher, guest of the third episode of WHY CARE?, explains the benefits of Cash & Voucher Assistance in humanitarian crisis situations. It provides a faster, more effective, and cost-efficient response. Most importantly, it puts the needs of the affected people at the center of the intervention, allowing them to regain a sense of dignity. While it is not the ideal solution for every situation, cash assistance complements a range of humanitarian aid mechanisms, each designed to best address the specific challenges of different contexts (Spotify / Apple Podcast).
#SDCpodcast - Jordan: making it through the COVID-19 crisis with help from social assistance (09.12.2021) (only available in German)
In the fourth episode of A Plus For Humanity, we take a trip some 4,000 kilometres to the southeast – to Jordan. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the country hard, and the economy is in ruins. Switzerland is helping out with cash and social assistance, among other things. But what is this assistance all about? And above all, how does it help the people living there? Tune in to find out what we learned (Spotify / Apple Podcast ).
SDC's magazine for development and cooperation One World: A Social Safety Net to Halt the Downward Spiral
Most of Haiti's population lives in unremitting poverty. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting the most vulnerable people directly while also helping the government to establish a social security system. (additionally available in german, french, italian)
One World Article (February 2021)
SDC's Poverty and Wellbeing Network
Within SDC, the Poverty and Wellbeing Network serves as the central platform for the cross-cutting topic of social protection. Key resources include the Working Aid, the Toolbox (published in 2023), and exemplary SDC social protection projects.
Poverty and Wellbeing Website - Social Protection
CALP Network
The CALP Network website offers thematic insights into CVA and Social Protection.
CALP Website - Social Protection