What difference does cash do for children in emergency settings? : A literature review on what is required for unconditional cash programming to successfully mitigate negative coping mechanisms for Syrian refugee children living outside of camps in Jordan

Abstract: This research analyzes how, why and under what circumstances unconditional Cash Transfer Programs (CTP) could contribute to mitigating negative coping strategies for children and their families in emergency settings and what the main obstacles for successful programs are. More specifically, the research uses the context for Syrian refugees in Jordan as a case study and applies lessons learned from other CTPs. This, to answer the question of what is required to successfully reach the intended effects of unconditional CTP with the purpose to mitigate negative coping mechanisms for Syrian refugee children living outside of camp settings in Jordan. There is little evidence of how unconditional CTPs can be used for Child Protection outcomes, which is why this research aims to contribute with evidence on not only how cash grants are spent, but what is required for CTPs to reach more long term outcomes for children in emergency settings. Evidence is drawn from unconditional CTP in both development and emergency setting, by applying the Theory of Change and analyzing the context, target, assumptions, intended and unintended effects and outcomes. The Theory of Change is derived from the broader Systems theory and Program theory, to capture more than the inter-connectedness of systems and the casual chain between input and output, hence describing the social patterns of change and in what context a certain input can be assumed to lead to a specific outcome. Findings from this research shows that CTP can have significant impact on Child Protection in Emergencies, in line with the Child Protection Minimum standards (CPMS), by mitigating negative coping strategies such as withdrawing children from school, isolation, survival sex and child labor. The research finds that CTPs evaluating outcomes for children show positive child protection outcomes. Furthermore, the research finds that the context is essential to understand the needs and if-then connections of CTPs, including the understanding of infrastructure, e.g. schools and banking systems. Finally, transparency of eligibility criteria for targeting is essential to avoid tension within communities and discrimination of target groups.