Strategies Supporting Institutionalization of Cash and Voucher Initiatives in Humanitarian Responses in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Coordination of cash transfer programs (CTP) is very important in achieving better humanitarian assistance in times of disasters and emergency because it saves resources, avoids conflicts, evades duplications and gaps, minimizes the difference between programs as well as thwarts inflation to local markets. The use of CTP to provide humanitarian assistance so that people access goods and services they need before, during and after crisis has been gaining momentum particularly since 2010. However, absence of a structured coordination framework of CTP has created lapses in the initiative thereby resulting into duplication of interventions, resource gaps, fragmentation and mismanagement of resources in quality service delivery. The study sought to examine strategies that support institutionalization of cash and voucher initiatives in humanitarian actions in Turkana County. The study adopted evaluation research design. Sampling strategy incorporated four techniques: multistage, proportionate, purposive and simple random sampling methods.  A sample size of 382 was used in this study. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guides, FGD, key informant interviews (KII) and direct observation (DO). The data collected was coded and analyses by both descriptive and qualitative methods using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study found out that strategies for institutionalizing CTP included establishment and use of CTP legal and regulatory framework, advocacy and lobbying for the use CTP by CaLP, role of Cash Working Groups in CT coordination and research and advocacy for CTP.