In Syria, cash and voucher assistance (CVA) is used to respond to the protracted conflict, emergencies, displacements, economic instability and to the current evolving context since the change of authorities. In 2024, 1.8 million people were reached with MPC, while 459,000 people were reached on average with sectoral CVA each month.
CVA, including MPC, is a vital form of assistance that empowers recipients and provides flexibility to help address the multi-layered nature of needs in Syria. It supports the achievement of the response strategic objectives, including increasing people’s resilience. The implementation of CVA is feasible as markets are functioning and accessible, and they are continuously assessed and monitored through the joint market monitoring initiative and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) vulnerability analysis and mapping tools. Delivery mechanisms with several financial service providers are operational in both local and foreign currencies. CVA is accepted by communities and authorities, and it is a cost-effective form of assistance to address the existing needs of the population.
Cash working group (CWG) partners have long-term presence and experience with knowledge, skills and expertise in implementing CVA, with guidance and tools developed by CWGs. Potential risks are regularly reviewed, and appropriate mitigation measures are identified. After the regime change in December 2024, a CVA feasibility analysis was conducted by the three CWGs to provide an updated overview of the cash landscape and to support the continued implementation of CVA initiatives.
Based on post-distribution monitoring (PDM), CVA is a preferred modality for recipients, with a notable level of satisfaction for its ability to improve living conditions. For instance, MPC in Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa, and Deir-ez-Zor has helped in improving living conditions of 68 per cent of the recipients and reduced stress levels for 71 per cent. It also covered immediate needs for 73 per cent of the recipients. Flexibility is given to beneficiaries to prioritize their own needs, which are often food, health, hygiene items and repayment of debts.
Some other examples of the benefits of regular MPC include; in Aleppo and Idlib, food consumption scored in the baseline showed seven per cent of beneficiaries in poor (emergency/famine) and 49 per cent borderline crisis level, but after receiving MPC 98 per cent reached an acceptable level (minimal/stressed). Cash assistance has decreased the withdrawal of children from school from 20 per cent to 0 per cent and child labour from 16 per cent to 0 per cent. MPC interventions promote the local market by increasing purchasing power for recipients, which in turn stimulates demand for goods and services.
From January-December 2025, a total of $729 million is planned for delivery as CVA, including MPC programming, which accounts for 23 per cent ($145.8 million of that funding) of the overall funding requests. Through MPC CWG partners, they aim to support 1,219,000 people (237,400 households) during this period. Cash and voucher programming, including MPC, provides more flexibility to help address the multi-layered nature of needs in Syria and support fulfilling the strategic objectives of the humanitarian response, including increasing people’s resilience.
MPC puts people and their household priorities at the centre and will continue to play an important role in humanitarian action in Syria in 2025. Its unique flexibility as a standalone multisector response becomes even more relevant in the developing situation, addressing basic needs while allowing for a long-term focus on recovery after years of crisis. By injecting liquidity into local economies, MPC has a multiplier effect that benefits entire communities- not just recipients, by fostering economic resilience and rebuilding local capacities. It helps rebuild trust in financial systems eroded by years of instability, as well as building financial literacy and inclusion, empowering beneficiaries with tools to better manage their resources and plan for the future.
MPC targets IDPs both in and out of camps, as well as vulnerable residents, using socio-economic criteria from vulnerability assessments. Assistance is prioritized in areas with the most critical needs. MPC plays a vital role in addressing key barriers to return, particularly economic insecurity and lack of livelihoods. The strategy is harmonized across Syria-including transfer values to ensure consistent, coordinated delivery. In Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Dier-ez-Zor, a referral system connects MPC recipients with early recovery and livelihoods actors to support longer-term solutions, a critical component in the current context.
CWGs coordinate with partners for de-duplication and are working on collaborative interoperability mechanisms to minimize overlapping and duplications among partners and enhancing the overall impact of humanitarian efforts. They coordinate with other sectors, utilizing specific planning/tracking tools for identification of gaps, geographical deduplications and complementarities, enabling partners to coordinate effectively at the ground level.
MPC partners conduct regular post-distribution monitoring after the delivery of assistance. A specific tool for this purpose was developed by CWGs in Aleppo and Idlib, and Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Dier-ez-Zor, which includes a diverse number of indicators that are inter-sectoral and sector-specific, including accountability mechanisms, community risks, food consumption score, reducing negative coping strategies, etc.
CVA coordination arrangements
CWGs support inter-sector coordination by promoting a common understanding of and approach to CVA, and they coordinate MPC. The CWG coordination structure is currently being revised to adapt to the new context, with the creation of a national CWG and specific sub-national groups. The new coordination arrangements will continue following the globally agreed IASC approach, with programmatic and non-programmatic coordinators. A localization approach will guide the contextualization of the structure, through consultations with cash partners and with a focus on local actors.
Continuous monitoring of CVA feasibility includes market system developments (prices of basic commodities), financial service providers’ capacities, risks and access considerations, monitoring of the SMEB and minimum expenditure basket (MEB), MPC transfer values, among others. Engagement with critical sectors, especially food security and agriculture and early recovery and livelihoods, are crucial to enhance synergies and provide a comprehensive humanitarian response.