The Mercy Corps 'Cash for Work' programme in post-tsunami Aceh

Cash for work (CFW) programs have been used in a variety of disaster and emergency contexts. CFW was a prominent component of the immediate response to the tsunami in Aceh. This document describes the Mercy Corps CFW program, discuss experiences in implementing CFW programs, and provides key recommendations for the implementation of similar programs in future emergencies. At its peak the Mercy Corps CFW program employed nearly 18,000 participants and disbursed over USD 4.5 million in direct payments for the seven-month program lifespan. The program was evaluated using monitoring data and an exit survey of 1,428 randomly selected participants.