Digital technologies for cash and voucher assistance in disasters: A cross-case analysis of benefits and risks

Amin Maghsoudi; Russell Harpring; Wojciech Piotrowicz; Damian  Kedziora

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103827

Digital technologies for cash and voucher assistance in disasters: A cross-case analysis of benefits and risks

Amin Maghsoudi, Russell Harpring^*, Wojciech Piotrowicz, Damian Kedziora

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The adoption and utilization of digital technologies which support cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in the humanitarian sector is expanding. This research addresses the risks and benefits of digitalization across three major stages of CVA programmes: identification and registration, transfer of value, and monitoring and tracking. Through an analysis of 18 cases, benefits are evaluated through three dimensions: cost, time, and quality, while risks are assessed with respect to the operational context. Findings reveal that context-specific risks related to data security, infrastructure, financial inclusion, accessibility and availability of services for beneficiaries and humanitarian organizations limit the extent to which technologies may be used, impacting cost-efficiency, timeliness, and quality of CVA programmes.

Original language	English
Article number	103827
Peer-reviewed scientific journal	International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Volume	96
ISSN	2212-4209
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103827
Publication status	Published - 05.08.2023
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article - refereed

Keywords

512 Business and Management
cash transfers
digitalization
disasters
humanitarian operations
risk assessments
risk reduction
514,2 Social policy
cash transfer programming
Digitalization
Digital transformation
520 Other social sciences
Humanitarian operations
Disaster risk reduction
Disaster risk assessment

Areas of Strength and Areas of High Potential (AoS and AoHP)

AoHP: Humanitarian and societal logistics
AoS: Responsible organising
AoHP: Digitisation and sustainability in intellectual property

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103827

1-s2.0-S2212420923003072-mainFinal published version, 771 KBLicence: CC BY

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Cite this

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title = "Digital technologies for cash and voucher assistance in disasters: A cross-case analysis of benefits and risks",

abstract = "The adoption and utilization of digital technologies which support cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in the humanitarian sector is expanding. This research addresses the risks and benefits of digitalization across three major stages of CVA programmes: identification and registration, transfer of value, and monitoring and tracking. Through an analysis of 18 cases, benefits are evaluated through three dimensions: cost, time, and quality, while risks are assessed with respect to the operational context. Findings reveal that context-specific risks related to data security, infrastructure, financial inclusion, accessibility and availability of services for beneficiaries and humanitarian organizations limit the extent to which technologies may be used, impacting cost-efficiency, timeliness, and quality of CVA programmes.",

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author = "Amin Maghsoudi and Russell Harpring and Wojciech Piotrowicz and Damian Kedziora",

note = "Funding Information: This research is supported by the Academy of Finland under the project title {\textquoteleft}Cash and/or Carry: The Challenges and Modalities of Delivering Aid in Conflict Zones{\textquoteright} (decision no. 322188). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors",

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AU - Maghsoudi, Amin

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AU - Piotrowicz, Wojciech

AU - Kedziora , Damian

N1 - Funding Information: This research is supported by the Academy of Finland under the project title ‘Cash and/or Carry: The Challenges and Modalities of Delivering Aid in Conflict Zones’ (decision no. 322188). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/8/5

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AB - The adoption and utilization of digital technologies which support cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in the humanitarian sector is expanding. This research addresses the risks and benefits of digitalization across three major stages of CVA programmes: identification and registration, transfer of value, and monitoring and tracking. Through an analysis of 18 cases, benefits are evaluated through three dimensions: cost, time, and quality, while risks are assessed with respect to the operational context. Findings reveal that context-specific risks related to data security, infrastructure, financial inclusion, accessibility and availability of services for beneficiaries and humanitarian organizations limit the extent to which technologies may be used, impacting cost-efficiency, timeliness, and quality of CVA programmes.

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KW - humanitarian operations

KW - risk assessments

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KW - 514,2 Social policy

KW - cash transfer programming

KW - Digitalization

KW - Digital transformation

KW - 520 Other social sciences

KW - Humanitarian operations

KW - Disaster risk reduction

KW - Disaster risk assessment

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M3 - Article

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VL - 96

JO - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

JF - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

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Digital technologies for cash and voucher assistance in disasters: A cross-case analysis of benefits and risks

Abstract

Keywords

Areas of Strength and Areas of High Potential (AoS and AoHP)

UN SDGs

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

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Fingerprint

Cash and/or carry: The challenges and modalities of delivering aid in conflict zones

Cite this

Digital technologies for cash and voucher assistance in disasters: A cross-case analysis of benefits and risks

Abstract

Keywords

Areas of Strength and Areas of High Potential (AoS and AoHP)

UN SDGs

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Cash and/or carry: The challenges and modalities of delivering aid in conflict zones

Cite this