FAO Policy on Cash-based Transfers

Abstract

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other Rome based Agencies advocate a twin-track approach to achieving food security (FAO, 2003). FAO supports the use of cashbased transfers (CTs) as tools within this approach to save lives, restore livelihoods and increase resilience by promoting enhanced agricultural production and food and nutrition security in times of disaster, conflict and economic shock, and to support longer term development and social protect ion initiatives. CTs have proven to be effective tools for improving several aspects of food security including access, availability, stability and utilization. This document articulates FAO's roles with respect to supporting and implementing CTs linked to agriculture and food security in line with the Organization's mandate and comparative advantages. It is based on FAO's experience and expertise in supporting CT programming and details various CT mechanisms that are suited to the t win-track approach and are in line with the Organization's commitment to a common programme that integrates humanitarian, development and investment efforts. This policy establishes a corporate accountability framework for the Organization's use of specific CT mechanisms to support addressing hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.