Mercy Corps: Rapid responses to movements of populations through cash based programming

The project as a whole has 4 main objectives:

1.  The living conditions of the most vulnerable populations have improved by accessing essential goods and basic services;
2. The most vulnerable children and theri families are protected by being integrated in schools and other protection activities;
3. Mortality and morbidity of the more vulnerable children and their families is decreased;
4. The most vulnerable households benefit from a timely and effective assistance.

When apporpriate, MC responds to those needs by providing multi-purpose cash assistance. In this regard, the objective is:

1.  The most vulnerable populations, victims of displacement/return (of less than three months), have access to an appropriate individual assistance that enables them to respond to their essential needs, to access basic services and to diversify their livelihoods. Cash-based interventions are therefore perceived as a transversal approach to cover multi-sectoral need. 

Risultati principali attesi:  

1. 41'990 persons area assisted with Non-food Items (direct distribution of NFI fairs) and multi-purpose chash interventions;
2. 50'250 persons benefit from water, hygiene, sanitation (WASH) activities: 50 chloration points are setup, 45 water sources rehabilitated, 400 latrines rehabilitated;
3. 11'250 persons benefit from education and protection activities: 20'000 are aware of child protection risks in situations of displacement, 17'640 vulnerable children are reintegrated into school;
4. 12'500 persons benefit form health activities, including 485 antenatal care and assisted deliveries, 75 victims of SGBV with proper medical care, 2'298 children screened for malnutrition;
5. 20'400 persons are assisted with multi-purpose cash interventions through SDC funding. 

Risultati fasi precedenti:   MC hast distributed USD $275 million through cash-programming in 27 countries. In Eastern DRC, MC has implemented similar projects form 2013, including with support from SDC (phase 1 of the current project). During phase 1, 4 distributions were implemented with SDC funds, reaching 3'151 households: through its vulnerability assessment tool, MC was able to assist individual households according to their needs, freeing up funds to assist more vulnerable households than targeted (2'640). Phase 1 confirmed that unconditional, multipurpose cash transfers are an effective modality to respond to the immeadiate needs of populations touched by conflicts, but also to strenghten  populations' resilience, reduce protection risks and spur early recovery by regenerating local markets. 

Fase 2 01.08.2017 - 08.06.2018   (Completed)