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Cash in Türkiye

Learning from the Turkish Red Crescent’s comprehensive humanitarian cash programmes in Türkiye

The Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) has been at the forefront of large-scale humanitarian cash programming for the last decade. Its sector-leading Kızılaykart Platform enables simultaneous implementation of multiple cash assistance programmes, through the ‘Kızılaykart’ (debit card).  

A series of cash assistance programmes are currently supporting vulnerable adults and children living under Temporary Protection, International Protection (applicant status and status holder) or Humanitarian Residence Permit in Türkiye, along with those affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. 

Find further information and resources on the Kızılaykart cash-based assistance programmes here: (EN) (TR)   

From 2020 to 2023 the Turkish Red Crescent and the IFRC, with funding from the European Union, implemented the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) – which was the largest humanitarian cash programme in the world.

Via the ESSN, more than 1.5 million refugees living in Türkiye received regular monthly cash assistance, enabling people to decide for themselves how to cover their essential needs such as food, rent, medicine, transport and other bills. In 2023 the programme was handed over to the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services, who continue implementing the now renamed Social Safety Net (SSN) programme in partnership with the Turkish Red Crescent. 

Click here to access the IFRC Go Platform Dashboard for Turkiye 


In December 2023 the IFRC and Türk Kızılay organised an Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) Learning Exchange event, with the support of the Cash Hub. The event, held in-person in Ankara and attended by remote participants online, was a part of proceedings marking the formal conclusion and handover of the ESSN.

The overall aim of the Learning Exchange was to use experience from ESSN implementation to contribute to the broader body of knowledge on humanitarian emergency cash and social protection programming.

Key sessions looked at the ESSN journey since its inception in 2016; community engagement and accountability (CEA) in large-scale CVA programming; innovative uses of data supporting ESSN design and implementation; programme adaptability and shock responsiveness; the value of positive campaigning via lessons from the ESSN’s unique story telling project; and at enablers for the successful implementation of a large-scale nexus programme.  

Kahramanmaraş Earthquake response: Find the latest resources

20 February 2023

Shaken to the Core: Assessing the impact of the earthquake on ESSN and C-ESSN recipients

This report provides an overview of the impact of the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake on ESSN and C-ESSN…

2 March 2023

Kahramanmaraş Earthquake: Rapid Market Assessment

This rapid assessment aims to understand the current market conditions after the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake, identifies the…

16 March 2023

Minimum Expenditure Basket Methodology and Analysis for Türkiye Earthquake Emergency

This report, compiled by Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)…


30 October 2024

ESSN Key Highlights Report

Type:

Report

Organization:

IFRC, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)

An overview of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme, detailing its reach, impact, and key achievements in supporting vulnerable populations through cash assistance. This summary provides a multi-faceted look…

  • Cash in Turkiye

22 May 2024

Post-Distribution Monitoring Survey – Kizilay ESEN Card – Türkiye

Type:

PDM

Organization:

IFRC, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)

This Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) was carried out to assess the impact of Kızılay ESEN assistance on the socioeconomic conditions of recipients, with a particular focus on their level of expenditure,…

  • Cash in Turkiye
  • Emergencies

11 April 2024

What makes the success of Kizilaykart?

Type:

Case study

Organization:

Cash Hub

This case study, produced by Daniele Wyss as part of the Accountability and Practice Project in the Cash Practitioner Development programme examines the diverse programs of Turkish Red Crescent Kizilaykart…

  • Cash in Turkiye
  • Development programme

18 March 2024

ESSN Learning Consolidation summary report

Type:

Report

Organization:

IFRC, Turkish Red Crescent

This summary report, compiled by TRC and IFRC, took a deep dive into three key areas: a) Data-driven approach, b) Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), and c) Shock responsiveness. The…

  • Cash in Turkiye
  • Emergencies

3 May 2023

Intersectional Vulnerability Study- Living on bare minimum: An exploration of the vulnerability of refugees in Türkiye.

Type:

Report

Organization:

Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)

Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and IFRC Türkiye Delegation present the second round of the Intersectoral Vulnerability Study (IVS-2), an effort aimed at evaluating the vulnerability and severity of humanitarian conditions…

  • Cash in Turkiye

10 April 2023

Transaction analyses of KIZILAYKART beneficiaries in the Earthquake Zone

Type:

Report

Organization:

Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)

This report has been compiled using transactional data of KIZILAYKART beneficiaries in the earthquake-affected area. The analyses have been conducted by duly considering the bank reports related to the pre-…

  • Cash in Turkiye
  • Emergencies