Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) kicked off the inaugural workshop on cash and voucher assistance (CVA) preparedness in Anticipatory Action (AA) at Lake Victoria Hotel, Entebbe. The event was officially opened by URCS Director Disaster Risk Management, Dr. Brian Kanaahe, who represented representing URCS Secretary General, Mr. Robert Kwesiga in the presence of Papa Mausa Tall, the IFRC head of delegation for the Juba Cluster.
The three-day event convened National Societies’ CVA and Anticipatory Action focal point personnel from the ECHO Programmatic Partnership program, including URCS and representatives from 10 other African National Societies, 2 American National Societies, 8 Europe and Central Asia National Societies, and 3 IFRC regional representatives.
The workshop aimed to leverage participants’ expertise in several areas, including inter-agency collaboration and coordination around Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) as an early action, understanding the nature of rapid-onset hazards, and exploring opportunities for slow-onset hazards with longer lead times.
Participants drew on experiences and existing studies from the household level to inform discussions. Additionally, the workshop also focused on identifying key challenges in delivering CVA as an early action by National Societies and brainstorming alternatives and solutions to overcome these challenges. The attendees also identified gaps for further research and practice in the field of anticipatory action and CVA.
URCS Director Disaster Risk Management, Dr. Brian Kanaahe says due to the change in climate, the frequency and severity of extreme climate and weather events have increased and will continue to do so. In the face of this climate change, URCS also had to embrace new anticipatory innovations as first responders.
“The CVA programming is one of those we have significantly embraced. We do this in close coordination with the Government and we work together to develop response and preparedness plans during these forecasts.” Dr. Kanaahe notes
Dr. Kanaahe further emphasizes, “In URCS, cash response is not merely an option but an integral part of our disaster response strategy. Currently, we are focused on developing a cash management information system to enhance efficiency and address existing data quality gaps. This system will streamline cash processes and update our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including prepositioning of cash. We are eager to learn from the experiences of all participants here and collaborate to further advance the cash agenda in our country.”
Papa Mausa Tall, the IFRC head of delegation for the Juba Cluster covering South Sudan, Uganda, & Tanzania, commended URCS for its pioneering initiative in anticipatory disaster preparedness and response by hosting the inaugural cash and voucher assistance preparedness workshop. He emphasized that anticipatory action is fundamental to disaster risk reduction, aligning with IFRC’s strategic priorities of enhancing response readiness and fostering community resilience.
He further emphasizes, “This underscores our commitment as IFRC to continually enhance and build capacity within the Anticipatory Action Framework. Cash, as a model of intervention, is one of the most effective and agile response mechanisms available to us. When integrated into anticipatory action, it becomes even more pertinent, reinforcing our position as the world’s leading humanitarian body.”
Vanessa Lubowa, the CVA lead at URCS, emphasizes that Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is a crucial response strategy during calamities. She highlights the proactive logical approach of using CVA as anticipatory action ahead of predicted disasters to aid at-risk individuals in safeguarding their homes, livelihoods, and health. Vanessa points out that CVA empowers vulnerable communities to make their own decisions on rebuilding their lives when hazards strike, unlike providing them with tangible materials that may not meet their specific needs.
This is made possible with funding from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Netherlands Red Cross and Austria Red Cross through the Pilot Programmatic Partnership Program (PPP).