Protecting beneficiary privacy: principles and operational standards for the secure use of personal data in cash and e-transfer programmes

The use of electronic transfers (e-transfers) in cash transfer programming has grown in the humanitarian sector and is increasingly recognised as an effective and efficient intervention in certain emergency contexts.

Following recommendations made in Cash Learning Partnership research in 2011 on e-transfers ‘New Technologies in Cash Transfer Programming and Humanitarian Assistance’ and demonstrated interest from the CaLP community of practice; CaLP has undertaken an additional three pieces of work in this thematic area in 2013, of which this is one. The other two pieces include the development of e-transfer guidelines and a study of factors affecting the cost-efficiency of e-transfers compared to more manual methods.

These principles and operational standards aim to enable agencies to meet and respect these international standards and in particular to address risks inherent in the use of beneficiary data by agencies engaged in the delivery of cash with a specific focus on e-transfer programmes.