A Wide Implementation of Large-Scale Cash Transfer Programming : Rationale, criticisms, and implications to key stakeholders - The case of Lebanon

Abstract: This study evaluates what would be the consequences of a wide implementation of large-scale cash transfer programming in humanitarian aid. The aspects that will be assessed here is the rationale for as well as criticism against the proposed implementation. The study also analysed what implications such a reform would have to key stakeholders in the humanitarian system. The theoretical framework employed for this study consists of two separate sections. The first section presents the available evidence on large-scale cash transfer programming (LSCTP) in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability to affected populations (AAP). For the second section, a review was conducted on previous studies relating to key stakeholders and how they would be affected by the aforementioned reform. The stakeholders analysed include donors, affected governments, operational humanitarian organisations (NGOs and UN agencies), affected populations, and the private sector. For the study, eight interviews were conducted with key informants, which was complemented by secondary data. The study found that the rationale for donors to implement LSCTP on a wide scale is strong, both from an efficiency, effectiveness, and AAP perspective, although the cost- efficiency aspect does require some attention. With regard to the stakeholders analysed, donors, along with affected populations, affected governments and the private sector, are all expected to benefit from a wide implementation of LSCTP, whereas the reform is expected to be disadvantageous to NGOs and UN agencies.