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Improving the Coordination of Humanitarian Cash Transfers-a Fool’s Errand?
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Kerkvliet, Emmeline Lidén, Lisbeth Larsson |
| Copyright Year | 2018 |
| Abstract | This thesis evaluates the extent to which attempts to improve the coordination multipurpose cash transfers (MPCTs) in humanitarian contexts can succeed. The first part of the paper focusses on outlining the existing coordination mechanisms and the reasons why improvements are necessary. In general, MPCTs require a multi-sectoral approach to coordination which is not apparent in the current cluster system and ad hoc approaches to MPCT coordination have proved insufficient. The term ‘coordination’ is often used but rarely defined. This research conceptualised coordination in the humanitarian sector as a process which aims to facilitate the optimal use of resources for achieving the best outcomes for populations affected by crisis and disaster. The second and main focus of the paper, is on the ability of UN agencies and INGOs to undertake reform of the way they coordinate MPCTs. The thesis borrows its theoretical framework – the Bureaucratic Politics approach – from the field of International Relations, to analyse two case studies from Lebanon and Ukraine. In short, Bureaucratic Politics posits that organisations are rational and self-interested, and base their strategies and policies on what they think will best serve their organisational interests and access to funding. Outcomes vis-à-vis other organisations are often suboptimal because the most acceptable result is one which tries to balance the various interests of organisations who have different levels of power. Applying this to the topic at hand, the approach suggests that negotiations between IHAs acting to protect their funding, space and power will dictate whether reform will take place and how radical it will be. The study finds that in Lebanon and Ukraine reform proposals had suboptimal outcomes due to the fears among UN agencies and INGOs that the reforms would undermine their skills, mandates, access to funding, and their power. Agencies argued that the proposals gave too much legitimacy to MPCTs, which if implemented more frequently, would deplete the funding available for sector-specific support and undermine the raison d’etre of many agencies. The Bureaucratic Politics does not provide a complete picture of the future of MPCT coordination. The paper argues that postcolonial theory, the ambiguous role of competition and ongoing positive trends must also be considered. Nevertheless, the Bureaucratic Politics approach is considered a compelling framework, particularly because it emphasises the importance of the context in which IHAs operate. Overall, the study concludes that as MPCTs are increasingly implemented, coordination will gradually improve, but it remains questionable whether the necessary radical reform of the cluster system will take place. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.cashlearning.org/downloads/user-submitted-resources/2019/01/1547466034.Masters%20Thesis%20Final_Emmeline_Kerkvliet_20180522.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
