The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in close collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), rolled out an advanced cash transfer mechanism for refugees using debit cards to allow them easily access their monthly cash entitlements and buy food of their choice.In a statement, the agencies said the card with multiple wallets can be used by different agencies to deliver smart assistance and ensure protection and dignity to refugees.Refugees will have their accounts opened with Equity Bank – Rwanda, which is partnering with WFP on this initiative, and will offer no withdrawals and account maintenance fees for the refugee clients. Using multiple wallet debit cards helps refugees' easy and direct access to cash and have many choices to buy food. The multiple wallet debit card is a more innovative solution and though new on the market, has been tried and tested in larger operations in Kenya, Jordan and Lebanon with positive results.The smart card adopted by WFP can serve other agencies that assist refugees in several components like health, education and others, thus the name, Multiple Wallet Debit Card. "This card will initially be used by WFP, but can subsequently be adopted by UNHCR and other partners too, because it has multiple wallets, up to 9 maximum, and each wallet can be used by different agencies to deliver smart assistance and ensure protection and dignity to refugees," said John Paul Sesonga WFP's Communications associate.Minister Mukantabana Seraphine, who launched the smart card use in Nyabiheke Camp, Eastern Province, commended WFP for its initiative that provides innovative hunger solutions to transfer from food aid to food assistance.Nyrirabirori Angelique, one of the 49,000 refugees receiving cash based transfers for food purchase from the local market, said she was happy about the card because it enabled her easily access the cash she needed to buy food of her choice.In addition to Nyabiheke camp, refugees in two more camps, Gihembe and Kigeme, are also benefiting from the new cash transfer delivery mechanism which will positively impact on refugees' food security.
Recent Video
- New non-profit trade association of HAND will standardise global talent ID
- No cards, no phones: J.P. Morgan’s biometric revolution in payments
- Anthony Vidiano on building the future of access management
- Charisma Check wins 2025 Start-Up Pitching Competition, advancing identity verification and background checks for dating app users
- How to protect one billion Amazon customers: Lessons from continuous risk assessments
