Cash Consortium for Iraq: Emergency multi-purpose cash assistance for the most vulnerable conflict-affected households in Iraq - Hawija reserve allocation The Cash Consortium for Iraq (CCI) requests a $950,000 contribution from the IHPF to provide first line and second line multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) to households affected by conflict in-and-around Hawija, Kirkuk governorate, and households displaced into Salah al-Din governorate. This direct support for 920 vulnerable households will seek to reduce negative coping strategies by enabling households to meet their critical basic needs. Although a large proportion of households affected by conflict in Kirkuk have reportedly moved to camps, out-of-camp displacement into Salah-al Din has increased. The CCI can respond quickly to meet the needs of vulnerable out-of-camp households by utilizing established infrastructure (staff, offices, agreements with money transfer agents) and experience distributing cash in Salah al-Din as well as ongoing vulnerability assessments. In addition, given the unpredictability of movement and displacement patterns, the CCI will stand ready to move into Hawija from the south as the area becomes accessible. Since the military declared Hawija re-taken on October 5, CCI partners will move quickly to assess security as well as market functionality in order to launch a quick and relevant response. Although Salah al-Din governorate and Hawija, Kirkuk governorate, will be the planned focus of this response, the CCI seeks flexibility to shift caseload to support another ongoing MPCA response across Anbar governorate if required. CCI partners are currently active across Heet, Ramadi and Fallujah districts, and will continue to move west as other areas become accessible. As the military campaign continues Western Anbar and displacement is increasing, it is crucial that IHPF implementing partners are ready to implement quickly with the flexibility to pivot geographically as the military offensive continues to unfold. As such, the CCI is well positioned to implement effective programming with funding from the Hawija reserve allocation. 

The CCI’s proposed response under this award includes:
First Line: Meet the emergency needs of 540 newly displaced internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees through a one-off transfer of 480,000 IQD. 
Second Line: Provide MMCA of 480,000 IQD transfers for up to three months to 380 of the most-vulnerable conflict-affected households. 

Although not funded under this award, households eligible for the full cluster response will be referred for legal assistance funded under other CCI awards (including members of staff based in Salah al-Din). Where legal staff are available and the judiciary is functioning, IHPF beneficiaries will have access to support to obtain missing identification and connect to the Social Safety Net (SSN).   

Building on their combined experience implementing MPCA in Iraq in Salah al-Din, Kirkuk and Anbar governorates, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) will directly implement the proposed program. However, the CCI model will draw upon the reach, infrastructure, data, and expertise of all of its agencies to promote an enhanced approach to MPCA implementation through harmonization, scale, and complementary programming in the same locations as MPCA. In addition, data sharing agreements have been signed with several key non-CCI partners including ACTED, PIN, and Tdh, which use the CCI targeting tools. Tearfund also use the CCI tools and a data sharing agreement is currently in development to enhance collaboration moving forward. This harmonized and coordinated response will therefore enable the CCI to pivot quickly and effectively respond to needs as they are identified.