Learning from the world’s largest nexus CVA programme – the ESSN
From 2020 to 2023 the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) programme provided unrestricted, unconditional cash assistance to the most vulnerable people living under Temporary Protection, International Protection (applicant status and status holder) or Humanitarian Residence Permit in Türkiye. The ESSN enabled its more than 1.5 million recipients to decide for themselves with dignity how to cover their essential needs such as food, rent, medicine, transport, utilities and other bills. Implemented in this period by the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and the IFRC, with funding from the European Union, the ESSN was the largest humanitarian cash programme in the world.
In December 2023 the IFRC and TRC organised an ESSN Learning Exchange event in Ankara, with the support of the Cash Hub. Its aim was to use the experience gained from implementing the ESSN programme to contribute to the body of knowledge on humanitarian emergency cash and social protection programming.
The event was attended by humanitarian practitioners from different organisations including the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, national NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies, non-state actors, donors and Government representatives and took place in a hybrid modality with some participants joining in person and others online. 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.
Watch the short video below to catch the main highlights
Below are some highlights and key resources from the event:
- Agenda: ESSN Learning Exchange Event | Agenda and speaker profiles
- A look back at the journey: ESSN facts and figures
- CEA in large scale CVA programming: approach, lessons and recommendations
- Data-driven CVA programming
- The dynamic responsiveness of ESSN during shocks
- Shock-Responsiveness learnings from ESSN
- Value of positive campaigning: Lessons from the ESSN storytelling project
- Enablers for successful implementation of a large-scale nexus CVA programme
- ESSN Learning Consolidation Summary Report
Zain’s family: ESSN assistance in Türkiye
The story of Zain and her family, displaced by conflict and then benefitting from their Kızılaykart cash-based assistance as they make a new life in Türkiye
ESSN in Numbers
Summary figures and achievements for the ESSN programme
Communicating with ESSN participants
The key role of SMS in facilitating two-way communication as part of the ESSN’s community engagement and accountability
