📋 Tender Overview
This credit proposal supports the implementation of the cash and voucher assistance-component of SDC’s Humanitarian Competence Centre Operational Concept, to guide SDC’s operational and global engagement on cash and voucher assistance across all divisions and offices. It aims to foster synergies with other SDC activities and priority themes. The allocated resources will support innovative projects, advance research, strenghten knowledge management, and facilitate strategic meetings and events.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Emergency Relief and Protection
Humanitarian efficiency
01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028
CHF 600’000
The project in brief
Background Broad agreement exists in the humanitarian sector about the advantages of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) as a modality that can be both cost-efficient and cost-effective. CVA is a people-centred approach which gives recipients more dignity, increased agency and choice to decide for themselves how to cover their needs. People in crises mostly prefer cash over other forms of assistance, as it enables people to address diverse needs based on their priorities. In addition, CVA is a market-based intervention which increases demand in local markets and indirectly contributes to livelihood opportunities along the whole market chain. While it is only in the last two decades that the use of CVA has significantly increased in global humanitarian responses, the SDC has been using this modality since the late 1990s. The SDC’s experience and engagement in CVA is highly recognised and appreciated internationally. SDC has evolved from a pioneer in CVA to a key operational actor, a recognized UN standby partner, and a leading advocate and promoter of CVA.
Objectives The overall goal of the CVA-chapter of the operational concept is to continue to promote the use of CVA within SDC and the wider humanitarian system, to help ensure CVA is implemented according to best practice and to overcome remaining challenges.
Target groups
People affected by crises
SDC divisions, desk officers and thematic focal points
Swiss representations
SHA experts
Implementing organisations, e.g. WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC, UNRWA, IOM, FAO, OCHA, Swiss and international NGOs, local organisations
CVA-specific organisations and working groups, e.g. CALP Network, CashCap, country-based cash working groups
Donors and other partners
Medium-term outcomes SDC will focus its work on CVA in 2025–28 on three strategic goals: A. Systematic consideration: CVA is systematically considered as a response option B. Quality programming: CVA is implemented according to best practice. C. Digitalisation and innovation: Innovation increases the quality of CVA and ccountability to affected populations.
Results Expected results: The SDC uses different instruments to engage in CVA. They reflect its multiple roles as a donor, actor and advocate. The concept will be rolled-out through the use of seven instruments which contribute
