Digital Payment Systems for Refugee and IDP Aid Training Course

Introduction

Forced displacement due to conflict, persecution, or disaster leaves millions of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in precarious situations, often cut off from traditional financial services. This 5-day training course on Digital Payment Systems for Refugee and IDP Aid explores how leveraging innovative digital technologies can revolutionize the delivery of humanitarian assistance, ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and dignity for those in crisis. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of various digital platforms, their operational considerations, and how they can be tailored to meet the unique needs of displaced populations, ultimately enhancing their financial access and self-reliance.

This intensive program is designed for humanitarian practitioners, program managers, finance officers, and technology specialists committed to optimizing aid delivery in complex environments. It will delve into the practicalities of implementing mobile money, e-vouchers, and other digital solutions, addressing challenges such as identity verification, digital literacy, and infrastructure limitations. By equipping attendees with the expertise to navigate the digital payment landscape, this course aims to foster more effective, accountable, and empowering humanitarian responses for refugees and IDPs worldwide.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience:

  • Humanitarian Program Managers and Officers
  • Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialists
  • Digital Transformation Leads in NGOs
  • Operations and Logistics Staff in humanitarian organizations
  • Finance and Grants Managers
  • Protection and Safeguarding Officers
  • Government and Donor representatives working on displacement issues

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify and evaluate various digital payment systems suitable for refugee and IDP aid.
  • Understand the specific challenges and opportunities of implementing digital payments in displacement contexts.
  • Design and manage digital cash and voucher assistance programs for displaced populations.
  • Address issues of digital literacy, identity verification, and data privacy for refugees and IDPs.
  • Develop strategies for fostering financial inclusion and resilience through digital humanitarian aid.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Digital Payments in Forced Displacement

  • Understanding the context of forced displacement: refugees and IDPs.
  • The evolution of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in humanitarian response.
  • Why digital payments are critical for aid delivery in displacement settings.
  • Benefits of digital payments: efficiency, transparency, dignity, and financial inclusion.
  • Ethical considerations and do no harm principles in digital aid.

Module 2: Assessing Needs and Infrastructure in Displacement Contexts

  • Methodologies for rapid assessment of digital infrastructure in refugee/IDP settlements.
  • Understanding the digital literacy levels and mobile phone penetration among displaced populations.
  • Identifying barriers to financial access (e.g., lack of ID, network coverage, cultural norms).
  • Gender, age, and disability considerations in digital payment design.
  • Mapping existing financial service providers and their capacity to serve displaced populations.

Module 3: Mobile Money for Refugee and IDP Aid

  • Overview of mobile money ecosystems and their operational models.
  • Designing and implementing mobile money-based cash transfers for refugees and IDPs.
  • Managing agent networks, liquidity, and cash-out points in challenging environments.
  • Addressing SIM card registration and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements for displaced persons.
  • Case studies of successful mobile money implementations in refugee/IDP contexts.

Module 4: E-Vouchers and Prepaid Cards in Displacement

  • Understanding different types of e-vouchers (closed-loop, open-loop) and their applications.
  • Designing and managing e-voucher programs for specific goods or services (e.g., food, shelter).
  • Implementing prepaid card solutions for flexible cash assistance.
  • Vendor engagement and reconciliation processes for e-vouchers and prepaid cards.
  • Benefits and limitations of e-vouchers and prepaid cards in displaced settings.

Module 5: Digital Identity and Beneficiary Management

  • The challenge of identity verification for refugees and IDPs in digital systems.
  • Exploring innovative digital identity solutions (e.g., biometrics, blockchain-based IDs).
  • Ensuring data privacy and protection of sensitive beneficiary information.
  • Developing secure and efficient beneficiary registration and enrolment processes.
  • Managing grievances and feedback mechanisms in digital payment systems.

Module 6: Operationalizing Digital Payment Systems

  • Designing a robust operational plan for digital cash and voucher assistance.
  • Partnering with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
  • Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability mechanisms.
  • Training staff and beneficiaries on the use of digital payment systems.
  • Contingency planning for technical failures, power outages, and security incidents.

Module 7: Risk Management, Fraud Prevention, and Protection

  • Identifying and mitigating financial risks (e.g., fraud, diversion, error) in digital transfers.
  • Cybersecurity threats and data breaches in digital payment systems.
  • Ensuring protection from exploitation and abuse for vulnerable beneficiaries.
  • Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations.
  • Integrating protection principles into the design and implementation of digital aid.

Module 8: Financial Inclusion and Future Trends

  • Leveraging digital payments to foster long-term financial inclusion for refugees and IDPs.
  • Linking humanitarian cash transfers to formal financial services (e.g., savings, credit, insurance).
  • Exploring the potential of blockchain and other emerging technologies in displacement contexts.
  • Advocacy for enabling regulatory environments and supportive policies for financial inclusion.
  • Sustainable models and the role of digital payments in self-reliance and durable solutions.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

Digital Payment Systems For Refugee And Idp Aid Training Course in Kenya
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