Post-Distribution Monitoring of Cash-Based Intervention, March 2020, February 2021 [South Africa]

NHCR increasingly uses Cash-Based Interventions (CBIs) as a preferred modality for delivering assistance, offering greater dignity and choice to forcibly displaced and stateless persons in line with UNHCR's core protection mandate. To ensure the cash assistance provided meets the intended programme objectives and that desired outcomes are achieved, UNHCR and its partners conduct regular post-distribution and outcome monitoring. Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) is a mechanism to collect feedback on the quality, sufficiency, utilization and effectiveness of assistance. The underlying principle behind the process is linked to accountability, as well as a commitment to improve the quality and relevance of support provided, and related services.

In 2020, through its partners Adonis Musati Project, Future Families, Refugee Social Services and Hand in Hand Development, UNHCR Southern African Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) provided multi-purpose cash (including for food, accommodation, household and hygiene items) to the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa for a limited period of time (1 - 3 months) per individual, however, assistance could be extended after a re-assessment. The aim of the assistance was to focus essentially on life-saving and life-sustaining measures to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers' needs. The CBI PDM was implemented by the partners after the intervention in their area was complete.

The PDM covered the following topics:
- beneficiary details and household demographics
- receiving and spending the cash assistance
- risks and problems
- markets and prices
- expenditure
- medium-term outcomes
- longer-term outcomes
- accountability