CASH-RSP: Strengthening vulnerable returnees and IDPs’ capacities to access basic services in a safe and dignified way through multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) and referrals while building toward more durable solutions through linkage to social protection schemes in Ninewa, Dohuk, Salah Al-Din and  Al-Anbar ACF, AGO and YAO, acting through a consortium, will address the immediate needs of highly vulnerable Iraqis through provision of immediate income sources to meet basic needs and reduce reliance on negative coping strategies, contributing to SO 3.2 and SO 3.3 of the HRP. 
Through this project the consortium will provide critical cash assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees, prioritizing female-headed households (HHs), People with Disabilities (PwDs), people who are chronically ill, without shelter, limited/no access to aid and the socially and economically vulnerable. This project will be implemented in Baaj in Ninewa and Sumail in Dohuk (ACF), Tooz Khurmato in Salah Al-Din and Al-Ramadi in Al-Anbar Governorate (AGO) as well as Al-Fallujah in Anbar Governorate (YAO).. The consortium partners have current presence in the identified areas and first-hand knowledge of the displaced and returnee communities as well as their needs. The partners planned to provide assistance to 1,022 HHs (6,132 individuals): ACF will support 450 HHs (2,700 individuals), AGO will support 350 HHs (2,100 individuals) and YAO will support 222 HHs (1,332 individuals). Based on preliminary assessments, the consortium anticipates that 491 HHs will fall under the R2 (most vulnerable) category to be provided with 880,000 IQD in one lump sum and 531 HHs will meet criteria of R4 (catastrophic) who will receive 440,000 IQD for 4 months to meet basic, humanitarian needs. However, due to significant variations in exchange rates between USD and IQD at the end of 2022, ACF observed an underspending in its MPCA budget. As a result, a revision request was submitted to IHF in March 2023, to use this remaining balance to support 22 additional HH (11 returnees from Baaj, 11 IDPs from Sumail) deemed eligible under R2 category (Activity 1.1.9). This change will enable the consortium to provide assistance to a total of 1,044 HH (6,255 individuals). Recognizing the compounding needs of the targeted populations, MPCA support will be paired with protection services and provided with a lens on protection mainstreaming. The consortium will lead a joint protection and gender risk analysis, host staff trainings (case identification, referral, conflict sensitivity, Do No Harm) and community information sessions as well as support inter-Cluster referrals. While compounding protection needs are expected to be the most commonplace, partners will also support other Cluster referrals based on identified need. Based on learning from the consortium’s previous projects together and other actions in these target locations, the project has mainstreamed inclusivity and sustainability. The project will also work through a civil society strengthening and research approach to address the underlying barriers preventing humanitarian caseloads’ matriculation into government social protection schemes. Community-Based Committees (CbC) comprised of diverse community members and authorities will support beneficiary selection to increase community buy-in for and support in diffusing potential conflicts. CbCs will lead dialogues between informal settlement and host communities to discuss key issues, common policy needs and priority advocacy items. At the community level, CbCs will lead awareness campaigns on barriers / to improve community buy in for enrolment in PDS. With authorities, CbCs will be supported to lead advocacy on reopening registration of social protection assistance and highlighting current barriers to Public Distribution System (PDS) registration. To support localization, the consortium will invest in a diverse peer to peer capacity building to capitalize on the different partners’ strengths. Based on the results of a partnership assessment and the consortium due diligence, ACF will support the partners in strengthening their institutional capacities in Finance, Logistic, Fund raising and Donor compliance through provision of training and secondment.