Workshop Series Enhances Coordination for Cash Assistance in Palestine with Focus on Data-sharing and Governance

The six workshops brought together representatives from the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development and humanitarian cash actors.

A series of virtual workshops hosted by the Social Protection Cash and Voucher Assistance Thematic Working Group (SPCVA TWG) and supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has explored ways to improve the delivery of cash assistance in Palestine. The workshops aimed to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, collaboration, and coordination across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

The six workshops brought together representatives from the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development and humanitarian cash actors. The discussions highlighted the successes of the SPCVA TWG, identified ongoing challenges, and set priorities for the group’s coordination efforts for 2024 and 2025.

Dr. Samah Hamad, Palestinian Minister of Social Development, emphasized the unique challenges faced in Palestine due to the ongoing conflict, stressing the need to support all households in the Gaza Strip as vulnerable. “Providing cash assistance is crucial for helping the most vulnerable – women, children, older persons, and individuals with disabilities – to sustain themselves and meet their needs,” said Dr. Hamad. She underscored the importance of increasing funding for cash assistance, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing the Ministry’s capacity for better coordination with humanitarian actors.

Jonathan Whittall, interim Head of Office of OCHA, acknowledged the evolving nature of the crisis and the necessity of reassessing assistance delivery methods. “These workshops have reinforced the need for a unified approach between international and national actors,” Whittall stated.

Participants identified two key priorities for 2024 and early 2025: data-sharing and governance, and programmatic and strategic coherence. The workshop led to the following agreed actions:

Form a Task Team on Data-sharing and Governance – To map data flows and establish a joint minimum core data set for cash assistance delivery.

Sign Data-sharing Agreements – Between humanitarian actors and the Ministry of Social Development to streamline data access and improve targeting efficiency.

Review De-duplication Mechanisms – Evaluate existing mechanisms and platforms for appropriateness and authority.

Develop a Roadmap for a Triple-Strand Social Safety Net (3SSN) – Involving the Ministry of Social Development, UNRWA, and WFP, to be overseen by a newly created Steering Committee.

Increase Coordination – Through regular operational exchanges and joint planning between international humanitarian and national cash actors.

Strengthen the National System – Support and expand the Palestinian Authority’s National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP) and social allowances, improve the national social registry, and enhance cash transfer adequacy.

The SPCVA TWG, co-led by OCHA and the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development with technical support from the ILO, was established in 2022 to facilitate coordination between national, humanitarian, and development programs. This workshop series was part of the EU-funded project “Strengthening Nexus Coherence and Responsiveness in the Palestinian Social Protection Sector,” implemented by the ILO, UNICEF, and Oxfam.

The workshops marked a significant step towards improving cash assistance delivery and fostering a more integrated response to the complex needs of the Palestinian population.