Country pages
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
23 February 2020
ESSN Mid-Term Review 2018/2019
Type:
EvaluationOrganization:
Oxford Policy Management, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), WFP, Development AnalyticsThis review focuses on four programmatic developments, specifically: (1) the SASF discretionary allowance, (2) outreach teams, (3) protection referrals and (4) the severe disability allowance. This review also examines the impact of the 2018 economic slowdown in Turkey on ESSN beneficiaries (5).
21 July 2019
Vulnerability and protection of refugees in Turkey
Type:
ResearchOrganization:
Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), WFP, World BankThis report provides a comprehensive view of the vulnerability situation of refugees eligible for ESSN and an assessment of how well ESSN targets, supports, and protects the most vulnerable refugees. The timing of the analysis takes place after programme eligibility is determined but before transfers are disbursed. Future work will focus on the impact of transfers.
23 April 2019
ESSN Post-Distribution Monitoring Report Cross-Section Round 2 (PDM 5)
Type:
ReportOrganization:
ECHO, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), WFPThis report provides an assessment of the effects of the ESSN assistance on beneficiary households over the course of two years, using data of refugees living off-camp before and after receiving ESSN cash assistance. These results present findings from three surveys: Pre-Assistance Baseline (PAB), Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) Cross Section Round 1 (CS1) and PDM Cross Section Round 2 (CS2)
23 August 2018
Lessons Learned Exercise: Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) Task Force Coordination in Turkey
Type:
LearningOrganization:
European Commission, Food Security Cluster, Norcap, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), WFPThis Lessons Learned Exercise (LLE) focuses on the coordination work and relations building carried out by the Task Force since it was established in December 2016. It looks at how the Task Force achieved its objectives by engaging with humanitarian actors outside of the ESSN and the various coordination mechanisms created to assist refugees in Turkey. Key findings are organized according to: what worked well; gaps/risks; and key takeaways, under three main criteria: (1) relevance/appropriateness; (2) effectiveness; and (3) interconnectedness and sustainability of engagements.
21 August 2018
Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) Programme Vulnerability Profiling 2018
Type:
ResearchOrganization:
ECHO, Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), WFPThe primary objective of this analysis is to inform the technical design of the ESSN programme in 2019 and beyond, and to support evidence-based decision making for the selection of eligible households. The analysis builds upon a large amount of data collected through the ESSN and aims to answer core vulnerability questions, to provide evidence to refine the targeting criteria used, and to estimate how many refugee households have the potential to ‘graduate’ into livelihoods programming.
9 August 2018
The Facility for Refugees in Turkey: helpful support, but improvements needed to deliver more value for money
Type:
EvaluationOrganization:
European Court of AuditorsThe scope of the audit was to assess the management of the Facility and the results achieved so far. The audit covered the period from the establishment of the Facility until 31 March 2018. The main audit question was: ‘Is the Facility for Refugees in Turkey effectively supporting refugees in Turkey?’.
Page 6 of 7