Community Perceptions and Preferences of Cash Assistance in Disaster Contexts in Nepal

Abstract

This thesis explores how disaster-affected communities in the Kavre and Bardiya districts of Nepal perceive and experience cash assistance projects. The research was guided by two core questions: (1) What are community members' perceptions and preferences of cash assistance in disaster affected areas in the Kavre and Bardiya districts of Nepal? (2) How could these community perceptions and preferences inform future cash assistance projects in Nepal? Using qualitative data from interviews across three research areas, the study identifies recurring themes relating to the role of local involvement, beneficiary assessment processes, selection criteria, distribution timing, and communication. Findings show a consistent preference for locally led assessment processes, greater trust in local actors, and dissatisfaction when delays occurred due to infrastructural or logistical constraints. Participants reported prioritising immediate needs regardless of timing of cash distribution. Additionally, issues resulting from inconsistent communication and unclear project scope were common. The analysis highlights the need for flexible and context-sensitive project design that considers disaster predictability, infrastructure resilience, social capital, and household vulnerability. Anticipatory cash assistance showed potential when paired with adequate preparedness education and timely delivery. The study also identifies gaps in gender sensitivity, inclusion, and project communication that should help to inform future programming. While the research is limited by a modest sample and geographic scope, it offers practical insights into tailoring cash assistance programming to better reflect community realities. Ultimately, it advocates for locally informed, contextually grounded project design that enhances the relevance, responsiveness, and effectiveness of humanitarian aid in Nepal.

Popular Abstract

What is the best way to help people after a natural disaster? Instead of distributing material aid, more humanitarian organisations are now giving cash directly to those affected. But how well does this work in practice, and what do communities think of this approach? This study looked at how communities in two disaster affected districts of Nepal experienced and perceived cash assistance. The results show that adapting the projects’ timing, communication and level of local involvement to the preferences of affected communities can influence the success in the eyes of those who stand to benefit from it.
When a disaster strikes, humanitarian aid is meant to help people recover quickly and safely. In Nepal, where floods and landslides regularly affect vulnerable communities, cash assistance has become a common way to respond. Rather than handing out supplies, organisations transfer money directly to people, allowing them to meet their own needs. But what do people actually think of this kind of help? Is it effective? Does it feel fair?
This thesis explores those questions by focusing on the views of people in two districts of Nepal who received cash after floods and landslides in 2024. Interviews and field visits revealed several important points that could improve how cash assistance is delivered.
Communities preferred when local people were involved in selecting who would receive aid. Local assessors were seen as more in touch with community needs and more likely to make fair decisions. However, relying on local volunteers also came with risks, such as political influence, social pressure, and bias. Delays in payments, caused by slow assessments, damaged infrastructure, or missing documents, were another common issue. When cash arrived too late, its usefulness was reduced, leading to a strong preference for earlier delivery.
Another key finding was that no single method of selecting recipients worked well on its own. Using only damage to homes or only vulnerability criteria (like disability) often left out people still in need. Poor communication also created confusion. Many people did not understand the purpose of the project or what the cash was meant to cover.
Most participants spent the money on immediate needs like food, medicine, or repairs. Before formal aid arrived, neighbours and relatives often shared shelter, food, or small loans. These informal support systems played a key role and also shaped spending. Some people used their cash for rebuilding, while emotional and social recovery was also a priority.
The research identified factors that make cash assistance more effective. Projects that adapted to local realities worked better, for example using existing data or flexible targeting. Clear communication and training were also vital. Volunteers needed clear instructions, and communities needed better information about who would get help, when, and why.
Anticipatory cash assistance, which aims to help people prepare before a disaster, also featured in the study. The idea is simple: if people get money in advance, they can store food, reinforce their homes, or evacuate in time. But in practice, several participants said they were not aware they had received anticipatory support until after the flood. As a result, the funds were spent after the damage, not before. The problem was not the concept itself, but the lack of timely communication and guidance. For anticipatory cash to work, people need to be informed, trained, and supported to take action before the disaster hits.
While the research was limited in scope, the findings offer useful lessons. In short: listen to affected communities, involve local voices early, communicate clearly, and adapt plans to the local situation.

• author: Worsteling, Jared William and Louws, Emma Susanna
• supervisor: Phu Doma Lama
• organization: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
• course: VBRM15 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Nepal, Cash Assistance, Aid Effectiveness, Humanitarian Programming, Anticipatory Action, Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Response, Community Perspectives, Local Involvement.
• language: English
• id: 9201563
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-19 09:08:12
• date last changed: 2025-06-19 09:08:12