A cash-based intervention is the provision of cash or vouchers to enable recipients to access goods and services. Cash assistance empowers and strengthens people’s resilience while ensuring that aid is delivered in a manner that preserves the dignity of the recipients. In 2023, IOM provided cash assistance to almost 4 million people across 112 countries.
IOM is committed to providing effective, dignified and accountable assistance to people in need. IOM recognizes that needs are dynamic and understands that people can often meet their own needs through local markets when goods and services are accessible, particularly if they receive cash or voucher assistance.
IOM uses cash-based interventions to empower affected populations and support the restoration of local markets, when feasible and appropriate. By offering cash and voucher assistance, IOM gives recipients the freedom to choose goods and services that best suit their needs, respecting their autonomy and dignity. This approach allows for more tailored and comprehensive support.
Advances in the financial sector and the arrival of new technologies allow for easier, faster and more transparent delivery of assistance. While responses are always grounded in thorough assessments of needs, context, market and operating environment, cash-based interventions have proven to be an effective and efficient response. Cash-based interventions have been able to meet project objectives, empower targeted individuals and communities and contribute to the recovery of local markets.
Cash-based interventions are not new to IOM. Since the 1950s, IOM has increasingly used cash transfers to support displaced populations. From 2018 to 2023, IOM implemented cash-based interventions in 136 countries, reaching around 12 million people.
IOM integrates cash-based interventions into its humanitarian, development and peace operations as well as in various migration contexts, including return and reintegration. The largest programmes are in emergency response contexts, such as in Afghanistan, Somalia and Ukraine.
IOM Cash-based interventions strategy 2022–2026
The IOM Cash-based Interventions Strategy 2022–2026 guides the use and scale-up of these interventions as a priority method of delivering of assistance across all IOM programme areas and in an increasing number of locations. IOM aims to use cash-based interventions as a catalyst for more comprehensive and sustainable solutions, linking humanitarian cash assistance with social protection systems, livelihood support and development programmes.
As the United Nations migration agency, IOM seeks to expand cash-based interventions to improve access to basic necessities and enhance protection for migrants, displaced populations and other affected communities, as well as to strengthen their resilience in crisis, transition, recovery and development.
IOM cash-based interventions focus on three strategic objectives. First, addressing needs and reducing vulnerabilities through cash-based interventions across IOM programmes. Second, building partnerships and strengthening local systems for increased impact, more sustainable solutions and empowered local actors and communities. And third, enhancing institutional capacity to scale up cash-based interventions within IOM.
Cash coordination
IOM is a member of the Global Cash Advisory Group and the CALP Network. IOM contributes to effective cash coordination by taking leadership roles at national and subnational levels, including in Brazil, Ethiopia, Jordan, South Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.
