34 DRC / DANISH REFUGEE COUNCILis not diverted, and planning should avoid creating higher levels of dependency onassistance, ensuring transition of recipients out of assistance programmes.Against <strong>the</strong> background of <strong>the</strong>se findings, <strong>the</strong> following section will provide a general frameworkanalyzing <strong>the</strong> conditions for a successful implementation of cash-based assistance in <strong>the</strong> KIS ingeneral, and drawing possible lines for cash-interventions based on <strong>the</strong> results of <strong>the</strong> presentresearch and previous studies in <strong>the</strong> KIS.Picture 3: DFID-Action Aid Mobile Cash Transfer beneficiary (Photography: Samuel Hall, 2012)
CASH PROGRAMME REVIEW FOR IDPs IN KABUL INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS 35SECTION II: Assessing <strong>the</strong> feasibility of cash-basedprogrammes in <strong>the</strong> KISOne of <strong>the</strong> aims of this study is to identify <strong>the</strong> risks and protection issues for a cash-based approach.The present section develops a typology of existing cash-based mechanisms, looks at <strong>the</strong>comparative advantages of cash modalities and exposes lessons learnt from current methods ofimplementation in Afghanistan. This will serve as a basis for assessing <strong>the</strong>ir potential effectiveness in<strong>the</strong> KIS. This requires taking into account:(i)(ii)The situation of KIS as urban illegal settlements, including specific vulnerabilities outlinedin <strong>the</strong> previous chapter, potential obstacles against and incentives for <strong>the</strong> development ofcash-based programmes.The relevance of <strong>the</strong> distinction made between emergency/recovery initiatives, with afocus on <strong>the</strong> potential impact of various cash initiatives both in <strong>the</strong> short-term to addressacute needs, and <strong>the</strong> longer-term perspective of supporting livelihoods.Typology of Cash-based interventions: Cash based initiatives include a wide variety of mechanismsof implementation, ranging from direct cash grants to conditional cash grants, to vouchers, andcombination of cash and in-kind initiatives, listed in <strong>the</strong> table below:Table 4: Types of cash interventionsType of interventionGiving people money as a direct grant with no conditionsor work requirementsPaying people in cash for taking part in a public worksprogrammeGiving people money on condition that <strong>the</strong>y do something(attend school, plant seeds, demobilise)Giving people vouchers for a particular type of good (e.g.seeds) or a bundle of goodsSource: Harvey (2007) 32Labels commonly usedCash grants (Cash relief)Cash for work (Employment, publicworks)Conditional cash transfers(Demobilisation programmes)Voucher programmesThough in Afghanistan, cash-based initiatives have primarily been used as an alternative to food aid 33and to support basic needs (food and o<strong>the</strong>r essential items) through cash for work and grants forvulnerable individuals or households, <strong>the</strong>ir use can be much broader, including:Enabling <strong>the</strong> recovery of livelihoods.Promoting investments in human capital through conditional cash transfers.Supporting temporary and/or permanent shelter needsAccess to basic food and energy needs, recovery of livelihoods due to acute vulnerabilities inaccessing employment and generating income, health and child protection concern, and HLP havebeen identified in <strong>the</strong> previous chapter as crucial challenges communities in <strong>the</strong> KIS are faced with.Cash Initiatives in <strong>the</strong> Afghan Context: The on-going CaLP initiative, driven by NRC and Oxfam, is asign that cash is becoming increasingly considered as a response both in short- and longer-terminitiatives. As indicated by <strong>the</strong> table below, cash initiatives in Afghanistan have remained mainly ruraland implemented through cash-for work, complemented by direct cash transfers for vulnerablehouseholds.32 HARVEY, P. (2007) Cash-based responses in emergencies, Humanitarian Policy Group Report 24, Overseas DevelopmentInstitute.33 HOFMANN, C-A. (2005), Cash transfer programmes in Afghanistan: a desk review of current policy and practice,Humanitarian Policy Group Background Paper, Overseas Development Institute.
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