The Cash Working Group analysed how cash is employed in the humanitarian response in Lebanon in 2014. It analysed value for money in different emergencies transfers, including for the purchase of hygiene items. The case study was a review using interview with personnel of aid agencies active in the region. Data analysed included information of cash responses an overall aid spending data from the UNHCR Cash Coordinator. It found that the cost of purchases at the local market were more expensive than the international procurement through aid agency networks due primarily to the cost inefficiency of buying each individual item at the market. However, this advantage of international procurement was offset given that the affected population often sold their unwanted items at the market at lower than market prices. The review found that household expenditure for hygiene items was 4%. The review recommended that if humanitarian agencies wanted to continue providing in kind hygiene products, the agencies would need to make more effort to meet priorities and preference of the affect population which preferred sourcing items at local markets using cash systems.
PONGRACZ, S. (2015): Lebanon Case Study. London: Department of International Development URL [Accessed: 28.11.2016]