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IOM IRAQ CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT JANUARY 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms 4 1. Purpose and Objective 5 2. Cash In The Global Context 6 The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 3. Iraq Context 7 International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. 4. Humanitarian Cash-Based Interventions In Iraq 9 IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. 5. Donor and Government Positions On Cash Based Interventions 13 This publication has been issued without formal editing by the Publications Unit. 6. Market Access, Capacity and Prices 14 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PUBLISHER 7. Delivery Mechanisms and Financial Service Providers 17 International Organization for Migration The UN Migration Agency - Iraq Mission Main Office in Baghdad UNAMI Compound (Diwan 2) 8. Challenges and Risks Related To CBI 20 International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq Tel: + 3908 3105 2600 E-mail: [email protected] 9. Cash Assistance And Risks Related To Counter-Terrorism Measures 23 Website: www.iomiraq.net Report design and layout by Connard Co – www.connard.co Main References and Bibliography 24 Cover Image: Displaced family receives cash at IOM Iraq distribution in Erbil. Photo: IOM Iraq © 2019 International Organization for Migration (IOM) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT ACRONYMS 1. OBJECTIVE Accountability to Monitoring, Evaluation, AAP MEAL Affected Populations Accountability & Learning IOM Iraq commissioned the Cash Feasibility Assessment with the main objective to evaluate to what extent the context in Iraq is conducive CaLP Cash and Learning Partnership MEB Minimum Expenditure Basket to CBIs, what are lessons learned from current CBIs and identify CBI Cash-Based Intervention MENA Middle East North Africa recommendations for future IOM programming. Camp Coordination Ministry of Labour CCCM MOLS More specifically this assessment will review assess market access and capacity to meet increased demands/ cash injection, and Camp Management and Social Affairs review the political context and existing cash operational environment (including previous experiences and lessons learned with CBI), analyze risks, benefits, challenges and cost-efficiency gains of cash assistance (including beneficiary protection Ministry of Migration CCI Cash Consortium Iraq MOMD considerations), outline optimal cash delivery mechanisms and FSPs in view of initiating and scaling-up CBI in Iraq. The meth- and Displacement odology of the assessment included: CfW Cash for Work MOT Ministry of Trade • Desk review of IOM Iraq’s emergency response, IOM’s • Key informant interviews (KII) with: (1) IOM (2) External and partners’ CBI in country, donor policies and national Stakeholders including CWG/ MPCA and NFI/ Shelter CWG Cash Working Group strategies on cash and World Bank and Government Clusters, UN agencies, INGOs, and CCI, (3) Members MPCA Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance related Social Protection/ Safety Nets. of beneficiary community in Fallujah and East/ West EPS Electronic Payment System Mosul, (4) Market traders that provide NFI and Shelter • Field missions to Fallujah, Anbar and Mosul (East NFI Non-Food Item materials, (5) FSPs. and West), Ninewa to meet camp management, IDP FSP Financial Service Provider Office for the Coordination households, IOM Field Teams and observe vendors and OCHA of Humanitarian Affairs beneficiaries’ purchase behaviour. GDP Gross Domestic Product PDM Post Distribution Monitoring GoI Government of Iraq PDS Public Distribution System HRP Humanitarian Response Plan PMT Proxy Means Testing Inter Cluster ICCG Coordination Group POS Point of Sale IDP Internally Displaced Person Rapid Assessment RART and Response Team IOM International Organization for Migration SAG Strategic Advisory Group ISC International Smart Card Survival Minimum SMEB Expenditure Basket Islamic State of Iraq ISIL and the Levant SSN Social Safety Net JPMI Joint Price Monitoring Initiative UCT Unconditional Cash Transfers Joint Rapid United Nations High JRAM UNHCR Assessments of Markets Commissioner for Refugees Single mother receiving cash distribution says she will use the money KII Key Informant Interviews WFP World Food Programme to buy clothes for her three children. Photo: IOM Iraq 4 IOM IRAQ 5 CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT 2. CASH IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT CBI are arguably one of the most relevant topics of discussion in the humanitarian sector today. Globally, CBI account for over US$3 billion but represent only 10% of the humanitarian portfolio, even though they are proven to be appropriate in 80% of crises worldwide and suitable for most, if not all, emergency contexts – including challenging and insecure environments such as Iraq – either on their own or in combination with in-kind and other transfer modalities. It is estimated that 42%1 of the humanitarian budget could Globally, debates have shifted from whether cash is appro- be more effectively allocated to financial aid. CBI ‘raises the priate to how agencies can adequately and systematically bar’ of market analysis and accountability to affected popu- scale-up, maximize and coordinate CBIs. There is widespread lations (AAP) by making the humanitarian industry both more global support for cash-based assistance and a recognition cost-efficient and more people-centered. The humanitarian that it can make the humanitarian sector more efficient and community still lacks knowledge of local markets, although it people-centered in line with the commitments made within is central to understanding livelihoods, coping strategies of the Grand Bargain agreement.3 While not free of challenges, affected populations, and how they access what they need organizations are working together to ensure that CBI is the in crisis situations. Giving people in need a choice on how to preferred and default method of support of humanitarian spend humanitarian assistance allows them to regain some assistance in the coming years. dignity and empowers them to take SOME control some over Recent examples of contexts that are not conducive to their lives. CBI also helps humanitarian actors understand CBI include besieged areas within Syria with ongoing better what are the needs of crisis affected people, their fighting, remote areas cut off from transport networks in surrounding environments and can strengthen existing (or South Sudan (e.g. during rainy season), areas cut off from help create new) national systems (such as safety nets and markets following the earthquake in Nepal and areas with social protection), support local markets, increase stabiliza- severe movement restrictions during the Ebola crisis. This tion prospects by linking humanitarian with development demonstrates that only some specific contexts are unsuit- activities as well as better coordinate and harmonize the able for cash transfers and that, while some governments delivery of assistance of aid institutions.2 resist cash programming, this is not the case in Iraq now. In the last decade, CBI consistently proved that, where local Similar contexts to Iraq include Afghanistan, Yemen and markets exist, and the environment is conducive, they can Libya, where cash is being implemented at scale to meet help populations meet their basic needs and access services humanitarian needs. Countless reports, panels and summits in a more dignified, empowered, accountable, cost-efficient support the view that CBI (stand-alone and when provided and effective manner, while stimulating and having positive as complementary assistance) has the largest transformative knock-on effects on local economies, host communities and potential to increase accountability to affected populations displaced persons’ prospects. and support national systems. 1 The Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) (2018), The Power of Financial Aid http://www.power-of-financial-aid.org/. 2 Statement from the Principals of OCHA, UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF on cash assistance (05 December, 2018) https://reliefweb.int/report/world/ statement-principals-ocha-unhcr-wfp-and-unicef-cash-assistance. 3 The Grand Bargain, an agreement between more than 30 of the biggest donors and aid providers, which aims to get more means into the hands of people in need https://www.agendaforhumanity.org/initiatives/3861 Giving people in need a choice on how to spend humanitarian assistance allows them to regain some dignity and empowers them to take control some over their lives. Photo: IOM Iraq 6 IOM IRAQ CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT CASH FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT 3. IRAQ CONTEXT Iraq is going through a critical period of transition, 2018 statistics4 show that, with a population of 38.7 million people and an