Cheaper, Faster, Better? A case study of new technologies in cash transfers from the Democratic Republic of Congo

This study compares three different cash transfer mechanisms used in one humanitarian program in the Democratic Republic of Congo: physical cash, electronic vouchers, and mobile money. The study set out to answer two specific questions: 1. What are the differences in cost and time required to deliver cash assistance through these three different mechanisms in the DRC? 2. How do electronic transfers (e-vouchers and mobile money) affect the user experience in the DRC?

The study provides several recommendations for implementing agencies and e-transfer service providers. For example, implementing agencies should take time to assess the capacity of service providers, using recommended assessment tools. Thorough assessments can often reduce the need for expensive pilots. We also recommend pre-positioning agreements with service providers as a way to save resources and improve deployment speed.