BANGLADESH CASH WORKING GROUP

16 June 2015

MEETING MINUTES

Venue: Oxfam office

Participant agency: Department of Disaster Management, World Vision, Christian Aid, Plan Int, Soliderities, BRAC, Oxfam, WFP, TDH, Concern Universal, Islamic Relief, ACF, CGIS and Help Age

I. Updates on cash transfer programming in the country

Ongoing heavy rain was reported to affect cash for work projects in Bogora, Sunamgonj, Kurigram,Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Rangpur,Lalmonirhat, Sirajgonj and Jamalpur. The risk is unavailability of earth to remove. Communities’ preference to continue or not varies by areas. No agency has changed the modality.

NARRI consortium – Four schemes which started last month are on hold now. Islamic Relief’s area is most affected. Consortium is gathering after the CWG meeting to decide to change the modality.

DESHARI consortium – ACF completed 80% and Christian Aid 50% of planned CFW. Muslim Aid stopped in Kurigram and Chiristian Aid in Gaibhanda after consulting with beneficiaries. Deshari will monitor and wait until the end of June to make a decision.

WFP – Suspended in some areas in Kurigram and Gaibandha. Nearly 70% is complete. By now 76% funds for wages has been released by Govt and the payments are ongoing.

World Vision completed the short term livelihood grant to 1,550HH for in Rajshahi, Noagaon, Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona and Begethat.

SI and ACF distribute conditional cash grant for integrated farming and CFW in Shatkira. Coordination between two and local gov is established.

II. Potential actions for the CWG to take for preparedness

Participants shared what role the CWG should take to better respond with cash during coming flood season. Suggested areas to work area. Strengthening collaboration with Clusters,b. Conveying to donor the importance of releasing fund timely,c. Working out a guidance to set “one CFW wage rate” in district level,d. Gathering experience with e-transfer.

Technical Coordinator is going to follow up the c. and d. immediately and a. and b.

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III. Review the progress of CWG and revise the plan

Participants reviewed what has been achieved out of the action plan since last August.

Action to take Expected output done not done

Achievement/Action to take

Update current CTPs.

- Stock-taking 1st version by Dec, 2nd by May, 15

- Cash Atlas On-going

- Mapping On emergency basis, in collaboration with FSC

Increase knowledge sharing through provision of information.

- E-library/web platform for lessons learned, best practices event

Opened Sep, 14

Extend partnership with government.

-Strategy to link CTP with gov social protection net in long-term perspective

consultant-led research plus workshop with government

-Information on successful social protection activities to inform the national development process

consultant-led research plus workshop with government

Collaborate and coordinate with service providers to better design CTP and to negotiate better terms and conditions individually or as part of a consortium.

- Streamlined communication channels with FSPs CWG liaises bKash,

DBBL, IFC

- Accurate real-time data shared Need to update the February version

- Support in assessing their readiness to deliver

Develop communication materials

- Supply and demand side requirements in the contracting of FSPs

Need to research

Explore utilization of cash by women at household level

- Impact study of CTP in women and other vulnerable groups

consultant-led research linking gender to resilience

Enhance the level of knowledge of members in utilizing CTP.

- CTP training in Dhaka and division levels. Scheduled in 26 July

- Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis training Scheduled in 1st/2nd

wk of August- Lessons learned workshop on cash coordination Final editing is going

on.

Set up advocacy strategies toward various target groups.

- Advocacy strategy toward government

- CTP advocacy workshop

Generate evidence –based CTP selection and operation.

- Assessment of available options for CTP with diverse delivery mechanism, post

Developed in Mar, 14

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distribution monitoring and impact- Development of suitable tool to inform appropriate CTP Google format in use

Develop a set of guidelines on common practices

- Development and dissemination of the contextualized CPT guidelines

CTP toolkit to be developed

- Development of CTP decision tree Done

- Contingency Plan To be included in toolkit

- Templates To be included in toolkit

Action Research Initiative:

Apart from the drafted action plan above, the CWG shall undertake a research in one topic among below;

A. Impacts of a mobile cash transfer programme in comparison of other modalities in a similar operating environment- managerial practices- cost-efficiency- beneficiary accountability- potential risks

B. How to link the emergency cash to government social safety net

C. Impacts of cash transfers in gender and protection dynamic in HH level

Members are welcome to share key questions to be answered in each topic.

IV. Capacity building activity

A. Pre-Crisis Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis Training

The date shifted to the 1st or 2nd week of August due to resource mobilization. The suggested area for training is Mymensigh, Manikganj and Sariakanji.

The training duration is between 9 – 10 days including field assessment and response analysis.

Launched in 2014, the Pre-Crisis Market Mapping and Analysis (PCMMA) guidance helps humanitarian and market development practitioners (1) map the functionality of critical market systems; (2) estimate the likely effect of a crisis on those markets; (3) determine whether markets can be used to deliver relief (i.e. through providing cash or vouchers or procuring items locally); and (4) help to inform risk mitigation measures. PCMMA was developed jointly by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Oxfam with the support of USAID/OFDA and ECHO.

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B. Advanced training on cash transfer

This training targets those who have been exposed to planning and implementing cash transfer for food/livelihood/WASH/shelter sector, finance, logistics and others. The facilitator is Jonathan Brass, one of the pioneering cash and market experts in the globe. Towards the end, training of trainer will be given to those identified as cash promoter who will be expected to be able to conduct a basic level cash training.

Duration: 5 days, 26 – 30 JulyPlace: Platinum Suite Hotel, Dhaka

Agencies shall nominate one person.

V. Cash and market news

- Plan Int’l organizes a 3-day-training with ACF and Oxfam on EFSL and assessment procedure, cash transfers and market assessment from 29 June to 1 July. The target audience is emergency response team in Dhaka and field level.

- Seminar on Pre-Crisis Market Mapping and Analysis, 8PM, 25th June: feature experiences and on-the-ground learning using PCMMA from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the IRC, and Oxfam. It will be of interest both to market development practitioners as well as those working in the humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, food security, and livelihoods spheres. Participants will leave with a better understanding of PCMMA and the potential benefits of employing it.

Next meeting will be hosted by Christian Aid!

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