Led by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) with support from Concern Worldwide, this research aims to answer the key question: Are electronic transfers more cost-efficient than traditional manual-based cash delivery methods, and under what conditions?
This research outlines a methodology for assessing cost and offers detailed case studies of the cost of running recent emergency cash transfer programmes in Kenya and Somalia, drawing on e-transfer and manual cash programmes run by Oxfam, Concern Worldwide and SOS Children’s Villages. It supplements this with an overview of other recent programmes that illustrates how e-transfers are being used in other country contexts. The analysis highlights some of the key factors that affect the cost of e-transfer programmes. It also explains why ‘low-cost’ does not always equate to ‘best value for money’, and notes other considerations to be taken into account when deciding whether an e-transfer is the appropriate delivery mechanism in a given emergency context. It makes recommendations of ‘next steps’ for humanitarian actors, donors, governments and service providers. It is hoped that the findings of this research will be relevant for policymakers and humanitarian actors during future programme design.
The study is one of a series of three pieces on e-transfers by CaLP, the others being a set of guidelines to support programme implementation, and a code of conduct for data protection.
