2024 Alumni CPDP Blog: Dante Moses’ story 

The continuation of this blog series will focus on the highlights from the recent Alumni of the 2024 Cash Practitioner Development Programme, allowing practitioners to share what they have learnt and experienced during their Cash School learning deployments.

The Cash Practitioner Development Programme aims to expand the ready pool of cash experts available to deliver humanitarian cash assistance, and to strengthen the community of qualified practitioners with up-to-date skills in all areas of cash assistance. Cash deployments are a key element of participants learning schedules, these deployments aim to enhance skills and confidence in implementing cash based assistance. Some deployments are run in partnership with NORCAP, with practitioners accessing deployment opportunities from a range of humanitarian agencies.

What was your experience with cash prior to undertaking the CPDP training program? 

My initiation into cash was very much a trial by fire. Less than a year after joining the Dominica Red Cross Society as a youth volunteer, Tropical Storm Erika (2015) struck, leading to a response that for the first time included cash. Although my role was small then, it marked both my first exposure to CVA and the society’s first attempt at it. Two years later, at just 19 years old, Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated my island, completely shutting down systems, severely damaging the National Society, and leaving many volunteers, myself included , without homes. It was during this response that I executed the role of CVA Focal Point, working alongside rotations of experienced CVA experts who later became mentors. Despite the challenges, my exposure and interest in cash grew significantly, along with my eagerness to learn. 

What motivated you to pursue the CPDP program and expand your knowledge in cash operations? 

Having responded at home, across the wider Caribbean, and even outside my region in contexts such as floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and conflict, my motivation to deepen my knowledge only increased. While deployed as CVA Finance in the Ukraine and impacted countries response, I felt an even stronger desire to strengthen my technical expertise and bring that knowledge back to my region. Applying to the CPDP program was a way to further diversify my CVA skills and ensure I could contribute more effectively to both response and preparedness. 

Where did you go during your deployment phase? 

During my deployment phase, I supported National Societies in Bulgaria and Montenegro on their cash preparedness activities by co-facilitating CVA SOP workshops and a CVA self-assessment workshop. I then deployed to Anguilla, where I co-facilitated a Shock Responsive Social Protection Pilot alongside colleagues from NorCap, UNICEF, and CDEMA with the Anguilla National Office of Disaster Management. 

Can you share a particularly memorable or rewarding experience from your time in the CPDP program? 

After spending time in the Europe Regional Office supporting National Societies with their response activities, one of the most rewarding moments was knowing that even at the end of my mission I could contribute something lasting. Through the Cash School, I was able to return and leave behind tools and knowledge that National Societies could continue to use, which made the experience especially meaningful. 

What advice would you offer to someone just beginning the CPDP program? 

My advice would be to think beyond the day-to-day tasks and really use the program as a chance to explore how CVA can be applied in different contexts. The CPDP isn’t only about strengthening your technical skills , it’s also about broadening your perspective on how cash can complement other approaches, from preparedness to anticipatory action and social protection. Go into it with an open mind, ready to connect the knowledge you already have with new ways of applying CVA that you may not have considered before. 

How do you feel your career has progressed since completing the program? 

Since completing the Cash Practitioner Development Programme, I have been able to support my National Society in advancing its cash readiness activities, including drafting CVA SOPs. I have also provided remote support to CVA trainings for other Caribbean National Societies, which has allowed me to share knowledge more widely across the region. These opportunities have helped me grow from primarily implementing CVA to contributing to preparedness and capacity-strengthening, marking a significant step forward in my career. 

What trends or developments do you anticipate in the future of cash? 

I anticipate that cash will continue to evolve as a central tool in humanitarian response, moving beyond emergency distributions into areas such as anticipatory action, shock-responsive social protection, and climate resilience. Digital delivery mechanisms and stronger linkages with government systems will play a bigger role, especially in regions like the Caribbean where small island states face recurring climate shocks. I also see a growing emphasis on preparedness and cash readiness, ensuring that National Societies and partners can deliver faster, more efficient, and more accountable assistance when crises occur. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your CPDP journey? 

The CPDP was not only a professional milestone but also a personal one. It provided me with a network of peers and mentors across regions, which has been invaluable in continuing to learn and collaborate. Most importantly, the program gave me the confidence and tools to translate my experiences, from being a 19-year-old CVA Focal Point during Hurricane Maria to supporting regional and international operations today, into practical skills that strengthen both my National Society and others in the Caribbean. It has been a journey of growth, resilience, and commitment to ensuring that cash remains a strong, people-centered tool in humanitarian response.