4. Conclusion

The analysis of FACT project revealed additional challenges of such humanitarian cash and food transfer projects as compared to commercial projects. There is difference between these two types of projects in terms of project objectives, heavy dependence on temporary staff or volunteers during the project implementation, different motivation for the participating staff members and different methods of project monitoring and evaluation.

However, in spite of all those differences, all the charity or humanitarian projects required the same standard approach of project management, including problem identification, clear definition of the project objectives, then a good planning stage with a proper identification of the key milestones and key deliverables, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and a proper risk management.

The analysis of FACT project from the project management point of view proved a high level of performance of Concern Worldwide in the delivery of the project. However, some areas for improvement were also identified. Thus, in spite of high quality outcome of the project, some processes during the implementation stage were extremely time- and labour consuming, first of all, those related to the IT and cash handling areas. There is definitely a need for making those processing much more effective and efficient.

Another area of extreme importance for such type of the projects is the risk management, especially directly associated with cash handling, transportation and distribution. Thus, it was advised by the majority of the authors studied for the purpose of this report avoiding wherever possible direct cash transfers substituting them by other, more safety options of money transferring.

It was noticed that Concern would be able to avoid or minimise some of the negative aspects of the project delivery process if they dedicate some efforts to the study of best practices of other humanitarian organisations operating in the field of emergency cash transfers.

5. References

1. Achtell, E., 2006. Concern Worldwide Malawi Food and Cash Transfer (FACT) Project: Project Evolution, Planning and Implementation. December 2005 to April 2006. [pdf] Concern Worldwide.

2. Bornstein, L., 2001. From Management Standards to Development Practice: A Study of the South African Aid Chain. [pdf] Durban, South Africa. School of development Studies and Centre for Civil Society. University of Natal.

3. Cteri, P. and Jaspars, S. eds., 2006. Cash-Transfer Programming in Emergencies. [pdf] Oxfam.

4. Devereux, S., Mvula, P. and Solomon, C., 2006. After the FACT: An Evaluation of Concern Worldwide’s Food and Cash Transfer Project in Three Districts of Malawi. [pdf] University of Sussex.

5. Gentilini, U., 2007. Cash and Food Transfers: A Primer. [pdf] World Food Programme

6. Harvey, P., 2007. Cash-Based Responses in Emergencies. [pdf] Humanitarian Policy Group. Overseas Development Institute.

7. Harvey, P. and Holmes, R., 2007. The Potential for Joint Programmes for Long-Term Cash Transfers in Unstable Situations. [pdf] Humanitarian Practice Network. Overseas Development Institute.

8. Harvey, P. and Savage, K., 2006. No Small Change: Oxfam GB Malawi and Zambia Emergency Cash Transfer Projects: A Synthesis of Key Learning. .[pdf] Humanitarian Policy Group. Overseas Development Institute.

9. Kreander, N., Beattie, V. and McPhail, K., 2009. Putting our Money Where Their Mouth is: Alignment of Charitable Aims with Charity Investments – Tensions in Policy and Practice. British Accounting Review. 41 (3), pp. 154-168.

10. Peppiatt, D., Mitchell, J. and Holzmann, P., 2001. Cash Transfers in Emergencies: Evaluating Benefits and Assessing Risks. [pdf] Humanitarian Practice Network. Overseas Development Institute.

11. Rauch, E. and Herrmann, H., 2007. SDC Cash Workbook: A Practical User’s Guide for the Preparation and Implementation of Cash Projects. [pdf] Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

12. Savage, K and Umar, E., 2006. Independent Evaluation of Oxfam GB Malawi’s Cash- Transfer Programme.[pdf] Humanitarian Policy Group. Overseas Development Institute.

13. Witteveen, A., 2006. No Small Change: Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Response to Acute Food Insecurity; A Description of Oxfam’s Projects in Malawi and Zambia from November 2006 to March 2006. [pdf] Oxfam.

1 The unit of currency in Malawi is the Malawi Kwacha (MK). The exchange rate in January 2006,

at the start of the FACT project period, stood at approximately MK150 to the Euro. (Deveraux et al., 2006)