Cash-Based Approaches in Humanitarian Emergencies: A Systematic Review

Headline Findings: Findings suggest that cash-based approaches can be effective means of increasing household food security among conflict-affected populations and maintaining household food security among food insecure and drought-affected populations.

Evidence Base: The authors included 113 records, seven were experimental or quasi-experimental studies (five unique studies), 11 were cost studies (ten unique studies), and 112 reported observational, qualitative or mixed methods studies reporting factors that hinder or facilitate programme implementation (108 unique studies). There was a relatively even distribution of contexts from which studies originated, with 32 per cent (n=35) of included studies conducted in conflict-affected populations, 37 per cent (n=40) conducted in settings affected by natural disasters and 35 per cent (n=38) in settings affected by extreme food insecurity. The studies covered Africa, the Middle-East, Latin America, Asia and Europe.