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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
ESSN Learning Exchange
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.
Find out more here
ESSN Learning Hub: all the key resources produced by Türk Kızılay and the IFRC
ESSN monthly reports: key programmatic highlights
Kahramanmaraş Earthquake response: Find the latest resources
After the earthquake: Rapid Market Mapping and Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) analysis
18 July 2021
Adaptation of Operational Activities to Humanitarian Crises: COVID-19 Pandemic
Type:
LearningOrganization:
Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish Red Crescent’s (TRC) Kızılaykart Cash Based Assistance Programmes were maintained and adapted to the preventive measures across the country. This study provides information about the adaptation of operational activities due to humanitarian crises and cyclical developments, changing priorities, and experiences gained.
19 June 2021
Intersectoral Vulnerability Study: the Vulnerability Conditions of Refugees in Turkey
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ResearchOrganization:
IFRC, Turkish Red CrescentThe Intersectoral Vulnerability Study assesses the severity of humanitarian conditions of the refugee population in Turkey, building on a tailored analytical framework, a representative sample at regional and group level and the latest methodological developments in intersectoral analysis.
15 March 2021
Impacts on Refugees Living in Turkey: Findings from the Post-distribution Monitoring Survey (Round 10) on Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) Applicants
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ReportOrganization:
IFRC, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)Monitoring and evaluation activities play a crucial role to strengthen the ESSN programme’s quality and accountability. Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) is the primary instrument to determine the effectiveness of the assistance and its impact on the life of recipients. PDM data was collected in the period between June and September 2020 under the COVID19- circumstances via remote outbound calls, showing significant changes.
9 January 2021
Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) – monthly report January 2021 (Issue n.10)
Type:
InfographicOrganization:
Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)Short overview of programmatic highlights and achievements, as well as information on the use of cash and recipients in Turkey where the ESSN programme has been supporting about 1.8 million refugees a month.
6 December 2020
Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) – monthly report December 2020 (Issue n.9)
Type:
InfographicOrganization:
Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay)Short overview of programmatic highlights and achievements, as well as information on the use of cash and recipients in Turkey where the ESSN programme has been supporting about 1.8 million refugees a month.
22 November 2020
Adapting to New Normal: Remote Focus Group Discussions During COVID-19
Type:
ResearchOrganization:
Turkish Red CrescentWithin the scope of Kızılaykart programmes, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) are being conducted by the households themselves or Turkish Red Crescent Community Centers where available. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and its related health risks, face to face FGDs could not be carried out as usual. Therefore, to enable a quick response to the pandemic situation, the current modality for FGDs has been adapted to minimise the impact of COVID-19 and to ensure the uninterrupted continuity of monitoring activities.
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