UNHCR's Policy on Cash-Based Interventions

Cash-based interventions and in-kind assistance are the principal modalities for delivering
assistance and services. CBIs are intended to provide refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, internally displaced and stateless people greater dignity of choice in meeting their needs.

Designed and delivered appropriately, CBIs can reduce protection risks, facilitate solutions and improve efficiency and effectiveness in programme delivery. They can also contribute to the local economy and foster positive relations with host communities. In light of its comprehensive mandate for protection and solutions, its direct engagement with and knowledge of its populations of concern and the multi-sectoral nature of its programming, UNHCR is well placed to use CBIs, particularly multipurpose grants.

UNHCR’s Policy on Cash-Based Interventions (CBIs) is introduced herewith to expand and systematise the use of CBIs as a modality of assistance and service delivery across the organisation and its operations worldwide. The Policy reconfirms UNHCR’s commitment to the increased use of CBIs and sets out the corporate vision and objectives to be achieved by 2020.