Rapid Reflection on Cash Coordination for the Ukraine Response - Moldova briefing paper

Since February 2022, Ukraine and the neighbouring countries are facing a humanitarian crisis of unparalleled scale, ranking among the fastest-growing crises observed in the past decade and the largest in Europe since the end of World War II. In the first two months of conflict, more than 30 percent of Ukraine’s population had been coercively displaced and by October 2023, 6,240,400 Ukrainian were refugees.

In light of needs, vulnerabilities and capacities, cash transfers have been prioritized by the humanitarian community in Moldova as the preferred and default modality wherever feasible to respond to the needs of people affected by the crisis. This led to the fastest and largest cash programming scale-up in history, shedding further light on the importance of quality cash coordination.

Using the Global Cash Advisory Group (CAG) key performance indicators for cash coordination as a guide, this paper reflects on the extent to which cash coordination was (1) timely and effective and (2) inclusive, transparent, and accountable. It draws from 8 semistructured key informants’ interviews, desk review of available literature and a round table organised on the 16th November 2023 with key cash stakeholders.

Moldova has received 852,548 Ukrainian refugees since February 2022, among which 112,8112 currently remain in country. In an attempt to respond to the basic needs of these individuals, 62,785 refugees received emergency Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in the early stages of the emergency response (as of 15th June 2022). In locations where it is contextually and operationally feasible, cash transfers remained the default response mechanism in Moldova in 2023. The 2023 Regional Refugee Response Plan appeals for a $1.7 billion across 243 partners, among which the second largest share ($426,961,899) is dedicated to the Republic of Moldova to support the 200,000 refugees living there.