Cash-based Programming to Address Hunger in Conflict-affected South Sudan: A case study

For some time, aid agencies and donors have recognised the benefits of utilizing markets to deliver food assistance. And for almost as long, cash-based programming has been effective in doing this by improving people’s ability to purchase sufficient nutritious food. Addressing hunger through cash and voucher programmes removes the cost of transporting and storing food for implementing organisations, boosts the local economy, provides a wider choice and variety of food for beneficiaries, and restores a level of control and dignity for those receiving food assistance.

Yet, for all the benefits it brings, cash-based programming is not appropriate in every context. The successful introduction of restricted value vouchers in the Juba Protection of Civilians site demonstrates the potential for well-planned cash-based programmes to complement in-kind distributions in these settlements.