Vulnerable out of camp IDPs and returnees across four governorates in Iraq have access to cash assistance and referral services to reduce reliance on negative coping mechanisms In line with the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and cluster strategy, this project aims to: 
- reduce reliance on negative coping mechanisms for catastrophically and extremely vulnerable households (HHs) thanks to the provision of cash assistance and referral services 
- strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of local NGOs. 
This project will entail the distribution of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to 876 vulnerable households identified in Salah al-Din, Ninewa, Kirkuk and Diyala. The consortium partners, People in Need (PIN), Sorouh for Sustainable Development Foundation (SSDF) and Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) are currently implementing an MPCA IHF-funded project in two of the target locations and all partners are active members of the Cash Working Group (CWG). This project will allow the consortium to build on previous experience in cash programming, to draw on lessons learnt, extend current coverage and to guarantee continuity of the intervention in two of the target locations.
Following cluster guidance on MPCA, beneficiaries will be selected on the basis of their vulnerability score through the Integrated Socio-Economic Assessment (ISEA). Extremely vulnerable individuals (R2 category) will receive a one-off assistance covering two months of basic needs (880,000 IQD in total, around 600 USD) and catastrophically vulnerable individuals (R4 category) will receive assistance each month (of the value of 440,000 IQD, around 300 USD) for a period of four months (for a total of 1,760,000 IQD, around 1,200 USD). 
Through a gender mainstreaming approach, the activities have been designed to ensure the safe participation of women and Persons with Disability (PwDs), while at the same time respecting local social norms. Highly vulnerable HHs such as those living in critical shelter, female-headed households and individuals lacking civil documentation and PwDs will be prioritized, in line with the 2022 HRP. At least 60% of the beneficiaries will be women and 10% will be PwDs.
Selected beneficiaries will receive the Financial Health Encouragement (FHE) training aimed to increase their financial literacy and improve household budget management. In addition, in line with the durable solutions approach, partners will refer beneficiaries to complementary services identified through the new Referral Mechanism to Sectoral Services to link the provision of humanitarian assistance with longer-term development goals. 
Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDMs) will be conducted at the end of each round of cash distribution to understand the impact of MPCA on beneficiaries and communities. Thanks to market analysis and PDMs, partners will also monitor the market conditions after the cash injection.
The consortium will assist a total of 876 beneficiaries in the following locations:
- PIN will cover 346 beneficiaries in Al-Hatra: 157 R2 (45%) and 189 R4 (55%)
- WEO will cover 130 beneficiaries in Baquba (Diyala) and 160 in Balad (Salah al-Din): 145 R2 (50%) and 145 R4 (50%)
- SSDF will cover 170 beneficiaries in Al-Hawiga (Kirkuk) and 70 beneficiaries in Balad (Salah al-Din): 117 R2 (50% for Balad and 48% for Hawiga) and 123 R4 (50% for Balad and 52% for Hawiga).
Due to exchange rate fluctuation between the months of December 2022 and March 2023, PIN and WEO will also add one last R2 distribution round to cover additional 60 additional beneficiaries from their back-up list. The beneficiaries will be from Balad, Baquba and Hatra and will receive a one-off 880,000 IQD distribution.
Additionally, by dedicating specific human and material resources to the capacity building of local partners, the consortium will help strengthening institutional capacities of local partners, ensuring that humanitarian assistance is increasingly based on local resources. Localization is also reflected on the budget division, where local NGOs will manage around 56% of the total budget.