Research Consultant: The One-Card Approach: Evaluating The Pros And Cons

Background on the Lebanon Cash ConsortiumThe Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC) brings together six leading international NGOs (ACTED, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children International, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL and World Vision International) to deliver multi-purpose cash assistance to socio-economically vulnerable Syrian refugee households using a harmonized technical and delivery model. Currently, the LCC is providing multi-purpose cash assistance of $174 per month to the most vulnerable amongst the Syrian refugee community, on a national level in Lebanon. The LCC’s approach directly contributes towards achievement of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, specifically contributing to meeting Outcome 1 of the Basic Assistance sector plan: ‘Targeted severely economically vulnerable populations have improved access to essential goods and services of their choice in a safe, dignified, and empowered manner without increased negative coping mechanisms’. The strength of financial institutions, the responsiveness of markets and the high levels of financial literacy among target beneficiaries support the effectiveness of cash programming at scale in Lebanon. Available evidence demonstrates that cash assistance has had a positive impact on HHs' abilities to meet basic needs and is preferred to in-kind assistance by over 80% of recipients1. Research suggests that each dollar of cash assistance spent by refugees has a multiplier effect and generates $2.13 of GDP for the Lebanese economy1. This demonstrates that cash grants are spent locally, meaning local Lebanese markets and individual traders benefit. Furthermore, market assessments do not indicate any significant negative impact at the market level on competition or prices in the markets most essential to refugees The assistance process starts with the targeting using the household assessment questionnaire. After the questionnaire has been filled by the head of the household, or any other family member, the data is sent to the UNHCR server, called Refugees Assessment Information System (RAIS), and a score is generated for the household based on the data provided. This score serves as a proxy to socio-economic vulnerability and sets the criteria for whether the household is eligible for MCA or not. Specifically, if the household score is below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB), which is $87 per capita per month, then the household is considered eligible. The LCC follows the following process in order to assist refugees with the MCA through an ATM card. After households have been validated for eligibility, each LCC agency sends a Cash Transfer Application (CTA), which is the total caseload of beneficiaries with request of ATM cards and PINs, to the LCC information management team who then orders the cards, activates, and loads them with the respective amount. The same ATM cards that the LCC uses are also used by the World Food Programme (WFP) to load food assistance onto the e-voucher wallet (restricted cash assistance), making this coordination the “one-card approach”. However, the two amounts are loaded onto separate wallets on the card. Because of that, the WFP assistance is only accessible through the Point of Sale (POS) whereas the LCC assistance is only accessible through an ATM. In specific circumstances, the same card is also loaded with other assistance, such as winterization cash assistance during the winter season and was done so by UNICEF and UNHCR during the 2015-6 winter. Beneficiaries are thus able to cover food, non-food and cash needs through one single electronic pre-paid card. The electronic platform of the one-card is managed by WFP and enables financial transactions in partnership with the private sector/bank. Study ObjectivesThe current study will mainly aim on delineating the benefits, challenges and lessons learnt of using the one-card approach, including the usage between POS and ATM, on the technical, operational, and programmatic level as well as for the beneficiaries, LCC agencies and Donors. Furthermore, the study will contribute to the little or none existing literature on protection-related aspects of using the one-card among cash programmes, in turn, reinforcing “Do no harm” and accountability. The consultant will work closely with the LCC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Group and Technical Management Group (TMG) to achieve the below specific objectives:  Identifying strengths and weaknesses of the one-card approach, from the stakeholders' and users point of view, while looking at cost efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, accountability, and traceability. Identifying strengths and weaknesses of the one-card approach, from the refugees' point of view, while looking at cost efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, accountability, and traceability. Comparing stakeholders and refugees experience with the one-card Exploring potential solutions for challenges arising from using one-card  Providing recommendations, based on the findings, including factors to consider when considering joint modalities and transfer mechanisms with other partners.  Exploring any protection-related risks (such as fraud, card loss, card theft, etc.) with the one-card approach, reasons behind those risks and recommendations to mitigate  Conducting a risk analysis for the usage of the one-card among stakeholders, in terms of finance, management, traceability, and accountability.  Investigating differences (challenges and accessibility) on the usage of the one-card between male head of household and female head of household Suggested Methodology The study will entail a mixed-method approach where both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. Qualitative data. Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions (including phone interviews, when needed) to be conducted with the participants below:  Key Stakeholders LCC Agencies staff (technical, operational, and programmatic)  LCC Information Management Team  LCC Finance staff  Platform Manager staff - WFP  Bank staff (Beirut Staff, and other branches with ATM services)  Donor Staff  LCC Beneficiaries  Covering the 8 governorates Quantitative data. A short survey is to be developed to gather quantified data regarding the study objectives. Furthermore, existing LCC data will be used to further triangulate the findings. The existing data that are relevant to the current study’s objective are mainly previous Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) reports/data, Complaint and Feedback report and the Information Management reports/data. Data CollectionLCC will hire short-term enumerators to conduct all the data collection for the current study. The consultant will be training the short-term data collectors and will be responsible for coordinating and controlling the quality of all data collected. LCC agencies will provide support, if needed. Deliverables The consultant is expected to conduct the following: Literature review on existing studies comparing different cash transfer mechanisms, including on the one card Developing the KII and FGD protocol along with a short survey (for the pulled sample) Training short-term enumerators (to be hired by LCC) on using the developed tool Participating in and coordinating data collection, along with data compiling A full report including the following sections:            a. Executive summary           b. Introduction           c. Background           d. Limitations           e. Method               i. Sample               ii. Measures               iii. Procedure           f. Results           g. Discussion           h. Recommendations           i. Conclusion           j. Annexes     6- Q&A session with the LCC MEAL and TMG     7- A presentation illustrating the key findings