3.6: Scaling-up the use of CVA

CashCast: A podcast from the CALP Network

This episode explores the journey of an organization that has embraced cash assistance as a core approach from its inception. It discusses the benefits and challenges associated with starting with a cash-centric mindset and examines the role of evidence, partnerships, and addressing fraud in scaling up CVA programmes.

This episode features insights from:

· Lydiah Wangechi: Regional Director at GiveDirectly

· Sindhy Obias: Executive Director of the Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development (ACCORD)

Key themes explored in this episode:

· The value of a strong emphasis on research and evidence in establishing credibility and building confidence in cash assistance.

· The importance of close collaboration with governments, moving beyond seeking approvals to establishing true partnerships.

· The need to address skepticism and build trust among communities who may be unfamiliar with unconditional cash transfers.

· Contextual factors that have helped y increased familiarity and acceptance of cash transfers.

· The challenges of expanding programmes geographically, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure and connectivity.

· The importance of ensuring robust systems and processes to mitigate the risk of fraud, particularly as organisations grow.
· The importance of transparency and sharing lessons learned from challenges such as fraud cases.

Listen in to discover the lessons learned and ongoing challenges faced by an organisation fully committed to the use of cash its inception , and how this contributes to scaling up the use of cash in development and humanitarian settings.