There is growing evidence that cash assistance represents a highly effective form of aid by providing recipients with the autonomy and dignity to meet their own needs, and is typically a more cost-efficient modality than in-kind aid. In 2015, approximately US$2 billion was spent on humanitarian cash-based programming. In 2016, UNHCR gave nearly US$700 million in cash assistance to 2.5 million people spanning 60 countries. Jordan represented UNHCR’s third largest cash operation after Lebanon and Afghanistan. In 2016, UNHCR Jordan’s cash-based interventions (CBI) provided a record US$85 million in cash assistance to over 136,000 Syrian refugees in the country.
Underpinning UNHCR Jordan’s targeting and delivery of cash assistance is the Basic Needs Approach, and a Vulnerability Assessment Framework (VAF). The VAF provides a basis for UNHCR and partner organisations to target cash assistance to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees.
Through the VAF and targeting of most vulnerable refugees, UNHCR has adopted elements of a social protection approach to its cash-based assistance.