Less than five years ago, giving money and vouchers to individuals affected by natural disasters was “not widely accepted” as an emergency response. However, most recently in the Sahel region of Africa, both the World Food Programme and USAID are using cash and cash-for-work initiatives to both help vulnerable families get back on their feet and support the local economy.
In addition, providing resources directly to families allows them to choose for themselves which of their needs are most urgent and thus gives them the power to plan their own lives.
