The Myanmar response showed an increase in Cash and Vouchers Assistance (CVA) to support people affected by crisis while in displacement or in the immediate phase following a disaster such as the Mocha Cyclone in May 2023. When cash is feasible following the situation analysis through needs assessment, market functional-ity, financial service provider and risks, it is often perceived as faster and more cost-effective than in-kind assis-tance. In programs with shelter focus, CVAs have traditionally been provided to the affected population by staggered payments related to conditions and restrictions to be able to meet sector-specific technical, protec-tion objectives and outcomes. The conditionality and restrictions will often minimize the risk to beneficiaries caused by a very unregulated shelter value chain.

As Shelter-NFI response cover a wide range of interventions, also considering the specificities of each region such as Northeast, Northwest, Rakhine and Southeast, this is an initial guidance shelter cash interventions for further detailed guidance to be incorporated due course of the coming year.