Cash Working Group Meeting, Kramatorsk 14 May 2019 Discussion Action points/Decisions ACTED provided the briefing/refresher on the tasks and modality of cash working group (CWG). As of last year, ACTED is voluntary co-facilitates the CWG and presents the findings of market monitoring. Also, the amount of multipurpose case (MPC) is regularly reconsidered on CWG. 1. Results on MPC in Q1 2019 (by UNOCHA) ACTED to re-send the link to the • 7 partners were operational in terms of cash in Q1 – ACTED (non-HRP), Caritas Ukraine, Dorcas Aid International, IOM (non-HRP), CWG page on People in Need, Terre des Hommes, SOS Children's Villages International. humanitarianresponse.info to • Based on information provided by partners, the total amount of MPC provided in Q1 was 23’163’250 UAH. partners • In terms of number of beneficiaries, 2092 were within HRP and 3251 outside HRP, respectively UAH 6’807’090 and UAH 16’356’160 provided. The request to participants was shared for the cross-checking of the figures. • All information is available in the form of interactive dashboards on HR.info web platform with detailed information as per Cluster, partner, delivery mechanism and modality. • ICRC was implementing cash in Q1 2019 but did not share the data officially. • Individual protection assistance provided by UNHCR is reported to Protection Cluster and not to CWG in order to avoid double reporting (as it was agreed with CWG). 2. Plans of partners for Q2 in term of MPC and other sectoral cash assistance programs 2.1 Caritas Kramatorsk in Q1 was operation in the “buffer zone”. In Q2 the first 4 months cycle will continue. • With regards to sectoral cash, Caritas Mariupol, Caritas Kramatorks and Caritas Severodonetsk work on medical cash grants (up to UAH per month) within 4 months. • Since April 2019, ICRC does cash in two locations only – Pivdenne and Opytne. The assistance is planned as UAH 1300 per month for 9 months. ICRC will inform on the plan via planning matrix tool. • Polish Humanitarian Action have been implementing cash programs in Q1 in Lastochkino and Svitlodarsk in Donetska oblast and Trehizbenka, Krymskoe and Predilske in Luhanska Oblast. • For Q2 the plan is only agro cash assistance for 250 beneficiaries ($100) and in-kind support to rehabilitation for 480 beneficiaries. • In Krymskoe, cash is paid via Ukrposhta, as they are delivering pensions to the village. 2.2 IOM implemented two phases of cash assistance to 3151 individuals in 51 locations (in 0-5 km area) in both oblasts (UAH 860 per month). One more phase is planned for Q2. 2.3 UNHCR is focused on individual protection assistance planned for 2100 individuals (onetime UAH 6000 for 6 months) in the 0-20km from the line of contact. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) | Ukraine Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org 2.4 Triangle has a program of MPC for 1900 HH with UAH 770 per month per HH. Program is planned to be implemented from March to May 2019. Triangle works with small grocery shops instead of big “supermarkets” in order to support local economy. The other activity is cash for work, mostly to support elderly people (562 beneficiaries, 900 elderly people targeted). 2.5 ACTED finalized MPC in April by provision of an additional payment for 172 individuals Next MPS is planned for late summer 2019 for 0-5 km area. With regards to sectoral cash, ACTED has “cash for food and hygiene for 3080 beneficiates who received three-months donation in 0-5 km area. Info is included to planning matrix. 2.6 Save the Children has no planes for cash in Q2 and Q3. There is a chance to have some MPC in Autumn on GCA. On NGCA cash is planned to be launched in June 2019 via the partner organization. Previously, Save the children was implementing cash in NGCA via the UA bank accounts. There were not any issues with taxation as all beneficiaries are registered in NGCA or “frontline” location in GCA and are expiated from taxation as per UA legislation. 2.7 NRC has no updates as the cash project was finished. NRC expects to have new projects on cash in autumn 2019. ACTED to share the matrix after consolidation of information 3. Planning matrix missing from several MPC partners ACTED presented the draft planning matrix and described the system of verification of the lists of beneficiates and bilateral cross-checking between partners using the individual taxation number of each beneficiary. UNHCR asked participants to be more proactive on the verification of the lists of beneficiates and bilateral cross-checking between partners and ACTED to share the presentation proposed to come up with the list of focal points responsible for the management of the lists from each partner. with key findings of Joint Market Monitoring, round February- 4. Market monitoring results March 2019 • Data collection done in February March 2019 in 34 locations (7 market sub-centers; 11 semi-peripheries: 16 periphery) for 0-5 km zone and out of it; Southern Donetsk to Eastern Luhansk as well as Donetsk and Luhansk cities, NGCA; Kyiv • Six rounds of monitoring have been done with surveyed seller and consumers. • Focus on price dynamics and availability of goods. • Four partners were involved in data collection, dashboard is under preparation with fact in figures. • Market Sectors Monitored: food, hygiene, soled fuel, construction materials, agro inputs (fodder and fertilizer). • Customer survey included access to financial services, warm clothes, medication. • Number of surveys conducted in Feb-March 2019: 125 customers; 179 retailers, 1 retailer in Kyiv and 4 retailers in NGCA. • High price remains the main problem in accessibility of goods on the markets. • Bad assortment is the second main problem in accessibility of goods. • Safety problems were mentioned by 4% respondents in Avdiivka, Hranytne, Chermalyk, Lobacheve. • Basic goods (food and hygiene items) remain to be fully available. • Warm clothes were reported as fully available by 56% of respondents • Customers reporting purchasing warm clothes in other location • Agricultural inputs were reported as fully available by 85% of respondents • Customers reporting full availability of agricultural inputs • Medication were reported as fully available by 83% of respondents United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org • Non-availability of banks reported by 80% respondents in periphery • No ATMs reported by 72% in periphery • Average change in prices for food (GCA): +12.7% since February 2018; +2.3% since November 2018; • Average change in prices for food (NGCA): +31.8% since February 2018; -3.3%since November 2018. • Average change in prices for hygiene items (GCA): +5% since February 2018; -+8% since November 2018; • Average change in prices for hygiene items (NGCA): +19%since February 2018; +16% since November 2018. • In some locations (e.g. Avdiivka) traders reported more suppliers to start delivering goods (related to security); • Majority of customers and traders have reported that humanitarian assistance affects local markets (both positive and negative); • Negative impact of voucher distribution was reported more often comparing to another modality • In some peripheral locations customers report full availability of food while trader survey shows lack of food (related to home production); • Demand is affected by military presence and turnover • The increase of prices for dry fuel was informed and, according to beneficiaries, caused by the programs implemented by humanitarian actors. Partners to share their MPC • Military presence and rotation provide positive impact on the demand for the shops in the rea next to the line of contact. PDM reports/key findings 5. AoB 5.1 Participant were called to share and exchange their post monitoring findings and result. Since two MPC projects were implanted ACTED and PiN within Access consortium, ACTED has access to these data available via dashboard. Such data can be ranged as per the group of vulnerability, number of HH members and some other parameters. This tool helps to visualize the results of monitoring. Caritas shared their modality of post monitoring. ACTED shared their experience that “baseline” should be done in person in 90% cases. 5.2 With regard to the question asked by Caritas in advance to the meeting, UNOCHA replied following: • on HRP related question and possible revision of HRP 2019 – this is a decision to be made by HCT but Caritas’ feedback can be shared with HCT; • then the need for revising should be justified with clear reason; • ICCG is now developing an annual work plan with one of priority components dedicated to cash and voucher assistance (to be considered by HCT); • ACTED added that as discussed by ICCG the needs assessment should be reviewed twice per year. Contingency plans must be also reconsidered regularly on the level of ICCG; • Caritas stands ready to provide support from their side on the joint needs assessment and data collection; • The issue of humanitarian development nexus will be also included to the ICCG working plan as well as joint needs assessment and capacity building of governmental bodies • The issue of taxation and particularly the issue of income tax. NGO forum is looking on this issue as in 2016 CWG was asked to investigate the issues of VAT and income tax and CWG asked NGO forum for support. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org • There was a fact sheet produced by NGO forum in 2017 on behalf of CGW. It has three advocacy points and available on HR.info. Considering the legal framework changed, NGO is looking again to the issue of taxation. • The latest form NGO forum is that three advocacy points prepared by NGO forum in 2017 remained valid.