Exploring gaps in using digital delivery mechanisms for cash-based assistance in refugee crises

Cash-Based Assistance (CBA) has become the preferred aid modality for refugees when local markets are functioning. Utilising digital delivery mechanisms promises to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering aid to beneficiaries: reaching more people in need quicker with lesser transfer costs. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature and practice regarding which delivery mechanisms could be used in digital CBA, where, when, and how. This article explores the academic and grey literature to answer the following two questions: what is the state-of-the-art of digital delivery mechanisms for CBA in the context of refugees? and what are the most common delivery mechanisms for digital CBA in refugee crises as applied in academia and grey literature? Results reveal that more quantitative studies are needed to assess the digital interventions' performances and compare the delivery mechanisms in various contexts (e.g., locations in terms of settlement and hosting countries vs groups of beneficiaries). We also find that the literature does not provide evidence-based guidelines, standards, or feasibility requirements for using digital delivery mechanisms for CBA. Research is required to answer the questions of when, where, and how to use the digital mechanisms to deliver CBA, covering the operational aspects and best practices of recent interventions in the field. Our review identifies the reported cases of digital delivery mechanisms for CBA falling under three main categories: bank accounts, mobile money, and prepaid cards. The article has implications as it provides state-of-the-art literature on digital CBA, identifies gaps, and suggests future research directions.