Cash-for-work is a short-term intervention
used by humanitarian assistance organizations to provide temporary employment
in public projects - such as repairing roads, clearing debris or re-building
infrastructure - to the most vulnerable segments of a population. The methodology
is relatively new, but its use has become increasingly common in food insecure,
disaster-affected or post-conflict environments.
In this document, Mercy Corps examines
the process of cash-for-work (CfW) implementation and provides a general
methodology that can be adapted to the many different countries and contexts
in which we work. Based on our own experience implementing cash-for-work
programs, Mercy Corps' Guide to Cash-for-Work Programming addresses
the rationale of cash-for-work and describes when the use of the methodology
is most appropriate.
The Guide provides simple, useful tools
for determining the appropriateness of CfW, a general framework for implementation,
and the forms and documents necessary for implementing CfW programs. This
guide is meant to act only as a general guideline. Each program will vary
in context, and the CfW process should be adjusted accordingly.
The Guide to Cash-for-Work Programming
is intended for Mercy Corps' staff members who are unfamiliar with the
process of CfW implementation, as well as other interested actors working
within the development and humanitarian aid industries.