Though the corona-epidemic is anything but over, pioneers are already looking beyond. How do we rebuild economies worldwide that have been ravaged by the virus and subsequent lockdown measures? How do we prevent COVID-19 from becoming a driving force behind an unprecedented rise in global inequality? How do we protect quality of life worldwide?

Part of the answer: by giving money to those living in extreme poverty. Direct giving, the simple act of offering money to those in need as a form of aid, was ascendant before the coronavirus hit. Calls for direct monetary assistance have become more common – and more urgent – since. Leading voices, including Nobel Prize winners Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, economist Dambisa Moyo, the UNDP and Dutch government think-tank Adviesraad Internationale Vraagstukken, have all called for cash transfers to combat the economic fallout of the pandemic.

This is a time for us to work together
Cash transfers serve a humanitarian purpose. They address urgent needs. They can also help micro-businesses survive a crisis or keep people active in the workforce. This means they are an effective way to retain productive capacity in times of crisis. Rich nations, including Hong Kong, the United States and the Netherlands, have responded to the economic downturn by handing out cash to citizens in the wake virus. Poor nations deserve the same swift and effective response. This will only happen if we take action. Many small-scale initiatives are being rolled out at this moment, but we cannot afford to operate independently at a time of such crisis. Now is the time for NGOs actively involved – or even just interested – in cash transfers to come together and join forces: to exchange know-how, ideas and perhaps agree on a common approach towards governments and supranational organisations.

Let’s join forces in the fight against poverty
It is to serve this common interest that The Spindle, as the innovation platform of Partos, is hosting Cash Transfers Against Poverty, a strategic discussion of cash transfers in the light of the corona-epidemic. This webinar will provide those already involved in cash transfers with a platform to share insights and align decision-making, while also providing those new to the field with an introduction to it. Including speakers from Plan, 100WEEKS, PharmAccess, LittleBitz and Dorcas. Join us and be part of a revolution in global aid.

Practical information:
When: September 1st, from 15:00 to 17:00.
Where: The webinar will be hosted on the open-source and secure BigBlueButton Platform.
For whom: Everybody involved in or interested in cash transfers as a way of fighting poverty.