The Mercy Corps Cash for Work Program in Post-Tsunami Aceh

Cash-for-work programs have been used in a variety of disaster and emergency contexts. These programs were a prominent component of Mercy Corps' immediate response to the tsunami in Indonesia's Aceh Province.

This report, researched and written by Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health in collaboration with Mercy Corps, describes Mercy Corps' cash-for-work program, discusses experiences in implementing these programs and provides key recommendations for the implementation of similar programs in future emergencies. The program was evaluated using program monitoring data and an exit survey of 1,428 randomly selected participants.

At its peak, the Mercy Corps cash-for-work program employed thousands of participants and
disbursed more than USD $4.5 million to local workers over the seven-month program lifespan. The program provided a substantial infusion of cash which helped to restart the local economy and provide support to economic markets. At the most basic level, cash-for-work provided an essential source of income, and, for the majority of program participants and their households, was the only source of income in months following the tsunami.

Almost a year after the Indian Ocean tsunami, this report provides excellent analysis and context of a program that meant a world of difference for tsunami survivors in Indonesia's Aceh Province.