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CASH PROGRAMME REVIEW FOR IDPs IN KABUL INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS 11The goal of DRC’s work in Afghanistan is to promote durable solutions to refugee and displacementproblems, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In Afghanistan, DRC focusesmainly on livelihood and infrastructure support to the increasing number of returnees and IDPssquatting in the slum areas of Kabul. Through a participatory and community based approach, DRCalso aims at enhancing the protection capacities of urban communities hosting IDPs and returnees.The organization is expanding its livelihoods programs regionally, strengthening its cross-borderinitiatives to not only solve the problems of IDPs and returnees in Afghanistan, but to provide alonger-term view of protection and livelihoods response prior to displacement and upon return. Inthis effort, DRC is looking into ways to improve its programming – notably by commissioning SamuelHall to undertake this research on the potential use of cash programming in the Kabul InformalSettlements.This is the fourth research study conducted by Samuel Hall on internal displacement in Afghanistan 4 .This series of field-based research studies provide strong evidence to cover the needs of IDPs inAfghanistan – whether from a poverty perspective, from a protection angle, or more recently with ourspecific programming and operational recommendations for organisations like Solidarités, NRC andDRC. Samuel Hall is taking on this study for two reasons – first as it touches upon one of the keypopulations of concern for humanitarian actors in Afghanistan: IDPs; second, as it adds knowledge,and will provide answers, to some of the bigger humanitarian debates currently existing inAfghanistan, namely whether cash assistance, in-kind assistance or a combination of both is themost adequate method of providing aid to vulnerable populations.To deepen these key aspects of today and tomorrow’s debates on assistance in Afghanistan, thisresearch study will fulfil the following objectives:i. Assessment of the needs of IDPs, including vulnerability, seasonality, with a specific Age,Gender and Diversity approach, a market study and a review of cash programsii.iii.Identification of the risks and protection issues for a cash approach, and their mitigationincluding when and when not to use a cash approachAssessment of the viability of a cash approach for winter-related risk mitigation.MethodologyTo reach these objectives, the research team designed a methodology based on secondary researchand desk review, quantitative survey of IDP households in the KIS, and qualitative fieldwork.1. Secondary research and Desk reviewA review of theoretical and empirical research on cash-based programs across countries wasconducted, summarizing the results of recent research, best practices in other countries, andsources of disagreement/consensus on cash assistance among development researchers, in order toidentify the important aspects of cash programming and existing practices in Afghanistan. A deskbasedreview of all the existing reports and documents on internal displacement and on cash transferprogrammes (CTP) in Afghanistan was conducted to narrow down the scope of work, including thereview and assessment of official reports, available sources and the history and trends of CTPindicators used in programming efforts by DRC and different stakeholders in Afghanistan – whethergovernmental or non-governmental, international or national stakeholders, practitioners or donors.4 NRC/IDMC/JIPS/SAMUEL HALL CONSULTING (2012), Challenges of IDP protection in Afghanistan: Research study on theprotection of internally displaced persons in Afghanistan.SAMUEL HALL CONSULTING (2012), Sustaining the Working Poor in the Kabul Informal Settlements, Solidarités International.World Bank/ UNHCR (2011), Samuel Hall, Research Study on IDPs in Urban Settings.