A maturity framework for cash and voucher assistance in humanitarian supply chains

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) has grown substantially as an important alternative to in-kind aid in global humanitarian efforts, yet a notable gap remains in addressing CVA efficiency and establishing a framework for evaluating the maturity of CVA programmes. This paper proposes a CVA maturity framework as a structured approach to supporting humanitarian organisations (HOs) in assessing their maturity for implementing CVA programmes. Serving as a guide and measurement tool, this paper employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporates triangulation and inductive methods to establish key dimensions and measures. To ensure its practical applicability, the framework was validated with a survey of international HO professionals. The proposed framework delineates maturity stages (initial, structured and optimised) that represent varying levels of CVA delivery capability and enabling context. This manuscript’s unique contribution lies in its tailored maturity framework for CVA programmes in humanitarian supply chains.