The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Jordan has directly assisted more than 360,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees in both formal camps and host communities since it began operations in November 2012. NRC is the lead partner of UNHCR in Zaatari and Azraq camps in providing refugees with shelter and the management and distribution of non-food items (NFIs).
In the second half of 2014 NRC began piloting a market-based cash and voucher approach in lieu of centralized NFI distributions and hopes to expand these activities further in 2015. A cash and voucher approach provides beneficiaries with greater choice and flexibility to meet their household needs. More generally cash-based programming can empower beneficiaries, particularly women within the household, can reduce negative coping mechanisms and have broader multiplier effects for both refugees and host community including the private sector than traditional in-kind assistance.
This short policy brief explores NRC assessments related to a move to cash and vouchers, current analysis related to pilot activities in Zaatari and plans for future expansion including large-scale winterization activities in Azraq.
