Attachments
1. Background:
In recent weeks, cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have increased globally at an alarming rate. Nepal is very vulnerable to COVID-9 as it borders with both China (the first epicentre of COVID-19) and India (a highrisk country for COVID-19 with the world’s second largest population). The national and international non-government organisations have been advocating with the Government of Nepal (GoN) to release a directive on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). The Ministry of Finance, on 30th April has made a formal decision to support the informal sector workers applying Cash for Work (CfW) modality. Those groups who are not able to work, will be provided food assistance equivalent to 25% of what the others would earn. The Social Welfare Council of Nepal on 22nd April has requested all the I/NGOs to closely collaborate with the Local Government (LG) before distributing any sort of relief materials.
2. Purpose:
This document serves as the general guiding document for Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA)
Programming during the COVID-19 emergency and early recovery situation in Nepal. Its purpose is to provide practical guidance to all the humanitarian actors at country level in initiating and coordinating the implementation of CVA. The guideline is to be applicable with immediate effect during the response and early recovery phase, in alignment with the priorities and provisions set by the GoN. Subsequent guidance and annexes will be developed based on the evolving situation and needs.
This document does not replace the technical guideline developed by the Cash Coordination Group (CCG) and circulated among the CCG Members at the beginning of March 2020; rather to be considered as a complementary and an operational document.
While this guideline intends to provide a direction to humanitarian actors in CVA, it emphasizes that all the actors should closely monitor and follow the directions formally provided by the GoN.
3. Guiding Principles:
a. Beneficiary needs and preferences
b. Acceptance of the modality by the GoN and communities
c. Cash Feasibility and Market assessment
d. Cash assistance should not increase the level of risk or vulnerability faced by any beneficiary
e. Do No Harm approach
f. Priority on remote programming in light of COVID-19 context
g. Working closely and in collaboration with the LG
4. Cash transfer modality:
Cash transfer is considered a safer option, by humanitarian actors, for providing rapid relief where conditions allow. Various CVA modalities are practiced globally, one or more of which are relevant to a particular context. A successful cash transfers can be ensured only when a correct cash transfer modality is selected. CCG in Nepal strongly recommends the MPCA modality in responding COVID-19 situation in Nepal over the other forms (e.g. vouchers, CfW).