The use of cash grants in UNHCR voluntary repatriation operations

On 4 April 2008, UNHCR’s Division of Operational Services and the Policy Development and Evaluation Service (PDES) co-sponsored a workshop on the use of cash grants in UNHCR repatriation operations. A total of 25 UNHCR staff members participated, together with six experts and researchers from Oxfam GB, the British Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the Humanitarian Policy Group (Overseas Development Institute), and Oxford University.
 

The aim of the workshop was twofold: first, to review the use of cash grants in UNHCR repatriation and reintegration operations and draw lessons learned and best practices to inform and guide the planning of future operations; and second, to generate discussion on the specific features of cash grants and to discuss the use of cash in UNHCR interventions more broadly.
 

The workshop and the concept paper were informed by a desk review in HQ and interviews conducted with staff members involved cash grant programming in repatriation operations. Participants also received documentation on cash grant implementation; monitoring and evaluation.