SARD’s Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance - Working towards autonomy and dignity
July 9th 2024.
SARD’s cash assistance started in 2016, in the form of paper vouchers distributed to families and individuals. Beneficiaries could exchange these vouchers for specific necessities, including specific foods or medicine.
“Similar to cash assistance, voucher assistance gives recipients flexibility in deciding how to meet their own needs within a predetermined range of goods or services, such as food or medical treatment.”
- International Rescue Committee
A shift was then made towards e-vouchers, more useful and less fragile, and finally, SARD’s Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) program was established.
“Multipurpose Cash Assistance are payments in the form of cash that can be used to address a variety of needs in any type of emergency. Cash assistance empowers people with dignity and choice. It boosts local economies and ensures aid is effective and flexible. At SARD, we are a firm believer of putting the power back into the hands of those who need it most.”
SARD’s MPCA program targets vulnerable individuals or families. Oftentimes, they are unable to work due to old age or illness, SARD’s assistance therefore aims at providing them with agency in buying their basic necessities. In its regular MPCA program, SARD distributes monthly cash vouchers of $150 for eight months. During high-risk periods such as winter or in emergencies like last year’s earthquake, SARD also provides one-time cash distributions to vulnerable individuals and families.
According to Ibrahim, 83-year old beneficiary from Azaz, Syria:
“We can now diversify our food, whether legumes, vegetables or meat. We can buy what we need for food as well as medicine, for me and my wife.”
In the words of Mohammed in Abhab Al-Rahman camp:
“SARD came in difficult circumstances and provided the Cash Voucher project for the camp residents, which was a turning point in the lives of many displaced families. Thanks to this assistance, I am now able to purchase food, medicine, and meet our basic needs.”
“In the longer term, cash transfers can build households’ resilience, strengthening their ability to better cope with shocks and reducing vulnerability to future crises.”
For Ghosoun and her family, living in Aleppo, SARD’s MPCA modality allowed her and her family to rent an apartment, and access better care for her husband’s illnesses.
“Our situation improved; we managed to rent a house and settle down. Electricity, water, and rent cost $70, and we live on $30, buying medicine for my husband.”
The shift to a cash modality came from the need to provide agency and dignity to the communities SARD serves, as well as work towards long-term autonomy. Cash as a modality also costs less than in-kind and contributes to the vitality of local markets, allowing SARD to reach more people in need with assistance. However, in-kind assistance is useful in specific contexts, such as emergency responses like the 2023 earthquake. Indeed, this modality helps provide critical aid in times of emergency, when most resources are in short supply and individuals are not able to access markets.
“Cash is more cost-effective than in-kind assistance, reducing administrative complexities related to transporting, storing and distributing goods. It also helps stimulate the local markets. In the end, it is better for the beneficiary, the donor, and the local community.”
In 2024, we are providing 8-month MPCA to 1, 600 families in cooperation with AFNS, the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund, EU Humanitarian Aid and Welthungerhilfe. In preparation for winter later this year, we will distribute one-time MPCA to 4,720 families thanks to EU Humanitarian Aid and Welthungerhilfe.
We would like to sincerely thank our donors, who help make our work possible. If you would like to help us have a larger impact on the communities we serve, please consider donating below.