Research on Food Assistance for Nutritional Impact (REFANI): Literature Review

REFANI is a 3-year research project funded by the Department of International Development (DFID/UKAID) of the United Kingdom and implemented by ACF, Concern Worldwide, University College London (UCL) and the ENN. REFANI examines the impact of cash and voucher-based food assistance on nutrition outcomes with the aim of creating an evidence base for high-impact and cost-effective mechanisms in the prevention of acute malnutrition in emergencies.

The REFANI literature review identifies existing evidence on the use of Cash Transfer Programmes (CTPs) and the impact of CTPs on acute malnutrition in humanitarian contexts. The review highlights the evidence base for traditional food-based interventions and CTPs and identifies key gaps that remain.

In particular, the review finds that a greater understanding of how (i.e. the mechanisms through which) CTPs work is needed as well as more evidence on a range of CTP design features (e.g. timing, duration, amount and frequency), modalities (e.g. cash or vouchers), and recipient targeting criteria. Finally, very little is known about the sustainability of such programmes and their cost effectiveness, especially post-intervention. These indings lay the groundwork for REFANI’s forthcoming Global Research Framework.

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