November Highlight
UNICEF and UNHCR in Jordan launched this month the results of a joint research study “A Promise of Tomorrow: The Effects of UNHCR and UNICEF Cash Assistance on Syrian Refugees in Jordan”, conducted by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The study uses a mixed method approach involving a literature review and quantitative data collection through a survey of 2,114 randomly selected households across four governorates in Jordan.
The report notes that the majority of refugees are living below the national poverty line, with costs rising over time, and household expenditures exceeding income. It highlights that cash assistance is improving access to housing, helping families avoid harmful coping mechanisms, supporting greater spending on children’s schooling and improved academic performance, increasing spending on child health and is helping to improve intra-household relationships due to reduced stress. The research contributes to an increased understanding of the long-term impact of cash-based interventions on individuals, families, children and the host community in the humanitarian context.