RESOURCES
Cash in Conflict
Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) has several significant benefits that are well known, including increasing people’s dignity, power, autonomy and choice in how they manage their survival and recovery. CVA can also offer greater operational flexibility and achieve wider social and economic multiplier effects beyond its specific purpose.
Cash is used by people to pay for goods and services all around the world. This fact does not change in situations of armed conflict, when having cash in their hands can be mean the difference between life and death.
The ICRC – who have 16,800 staff in over 80 countries, helping people affected by armed conflict and violence – is enthusiastic about the benefits of CVA and realistic about when it is best to use it. Our experience and evidence shows that cash is an essential tool in humanitarian action in armed conflict, and our own operational analysis confirms many of the positive findings from other policy and academic studies.
© Revol Didier / ICRC
This section of the Cash Hub aims to share the experience of the ICRC and of those Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working in countries affected by conflict and other situations of violence.
Read the latest report below to find out more about the ICRC’s experience of using CVA in armed conflict
Key Resources
17 July 2025
Improving maternal care in Yemen: The impact of a life-saving voucher Initiative
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Norwegian Red Cross, Yemen Red CrescentThis video explores the impact of a joint voucher program implemented by the Yemen Red Crescent and the Norwegian Red Cross in Lahj Governorate. Aimed at supporting pregnant women, the…
17 July 2025
Voices from Yemen: Finding dignity in crisis – Maha Ahmed’s story
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Norwegian Red Cross, Yemen Red CrescentAs a mother caring for a disabled son, Maha faced immense challenges in meeting her family’s basic needs. With the help of cash assistance, she has been able to access…
17 July 2025
Voices from Yemen: How cash assistance empowered Abdel Fattah’s family
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British Red Cross, ICRC, Yemen Red CrescentAbdel Fattah, a dedicated teacher in Yemen, shares his powerful story of caring for his elderly father who suffers from kidney failure. With limited resources and growing responsibilities, cash assistance…
17 July 2025
Voices from Yemen: From Conflict to Hope – How cash assistance helped Bashir rebuild
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Norwegian Red Cross, Yemen Red CrescentBashir shares his powerful story of displacement, the struggle to find shelter, and living in fear amid ongoing conflict in Yemen. Faced with immense hardship, cash assistance became a crucial…
22 January 2025
Transforming Lives: the impact of cash assistance on people’s wellbeing – A Case Study from Syria
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Syrian Arab Red CrescentIn response to the 2023 earthquake, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, supported by various humanitarian partners, implemented a multipurpose cash assistance programme to provide relief to affected families. Over 49,000…
22 January 2025
One Movement Approach for Cash Coordination – Syria Case Study from Syria 2023 Earthquake emergency response
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Syrian Arab Red CrescentThe Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) provided cash assistance to more than 205.000 people in response to the devastating earthquake that struck in February 2023. In addition, they assisted 122,525…
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