Introduction
The 2022 brought the largest conflict in Europe since WWII, probing entire international community with the largest challenge in its modern history – the full scale invasion of Ukraine.
The international donors, United Nations, and partners has consolidated and appropriate response, helping to absorb the first shock of the armed conflict with cash and in-kind programs.
Cash support and CVA in 2022
Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is an established method for supporting people affected by humanitarian crises. It ensures person-centered design of the program, facilitating dignity and agency.
In 2022 it hit the record of $7.9 billion, with distributions in Ukraine reaching the mark of $1.2 billion in Multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA).
CVA in 2023 – 2024. Start of Sectorial CVA
While 22’s massive response has helped to face the shock, the following years brought new challenges – from people returning to the newly liberated areas to rapidly worsening situation in the East of Ukraine with the conflict has been intensifying with every single months.
As the aggressor advanced in eastern Ukraine, each mile gained forced thousands to evacuate—people grieving lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones while facing an uncertain future.
- There is no home
- There is no work
- No short-term prospects on getting back
The CVA support has been revolving around this target population and around key programmatic sectors:
- Protection
- Shelter
- Health
- Livelihoods and Food security
It was a time when actors started incorporating their CVA response into their programs targeting IDPs, evacuees, and frontline communities.
The share of the partners’s CVA response in the entire portfolio also significantly dropped reflecting actors pivoting to more tailored cash and voucher distributions within their existing programs, focused on the in-kind support and service provision.
Sector-specific CVAs by example
- One of the examples can be our “Cash for medical referrals” program, that we started in 2023.
- Another health actor, Médecins du Monde developed a voucher for the lab services, linking with their mobile team’s consultations with private lab service providers.
- Another sector-specific CVA support – cash for small renovations for those who’s homes sustained damaged due to hostilities., distributed by the protection partners, especially those which have shelter component.
CVA in 2025. Adapting to the new Realities
The 2025 started as a huge blow to the entire industry – the freeze of funds with the ensuing closure of the USAID and BHA – has instilled the unprecedented level of uncertainty to the global offices and teams working on the ground.
| Year | People in Need | People Targeted | Requirements | Funding | % Funded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.4M | 1.9M | $168M | $106.4M | 63% |
| 2022 | 17.7M | 11.5M | $4.3B | $3.8B | 88% |
| 2023 | 17.6M | 11.1M | $3.9B | $2.9B | 74% |
| 2024 | 14.6M | 8.5M | $3.1B | $2.4B | 77% |
| 2025 | 12.7M | 6M | $2.6B | $1.2B | 47% |
| 2026 | 10.8M | 4.1M | $2.3B | TBD | TBD |
Note: 2026 funding data will be announced on January 13, 2026 (click TBD above for live broadcast)
Three months of implementation delays and outright closures of US-funded CVA projects created a stark gap between planned assistance and actual delivery:
At the beginning of 2025, the entire portfolio of CVA activities was projected at $1.07 billion (or 39% of HNRP requirements).
Obtaining the full amount of funds distributed via CVA modalities in 2025 is quite difficult, but we can estimated base on the data from Cash Working Group.
By the end of the 2025 partners spent around $157 million on MPCA support according to the Cash Working Group. As a rule, MPCA accounts of around 2/3 of total CVA, so it is safe to assume that total CVA distributions in 2025 are estimated at less then 25% of projected.
Annual Comparison
Projected vs Estimated Actual
Expectations for 2026
CVA in 2026: Recovery and Government Integration
After the severe contraction of 2025—when CVA fell to just $283 million (26.5% of planned assistance)—early signals suggest 2026 could mark a turning point. Ukrainian government officials and humanitarian leadership are signaling renewed commitment to cash-based approaches, with projections estimating CVA could reach $500 million, representing substantial recovery though still well below pre-2025 levels.
Deputy of President of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk has confirmed:
cash support remains among Ukraine’s top humanitarian priorities for 2026
This political commitment from the highest levels of government reflects recognition that CVA’s flexibility and efficiency are essential as Ukraine navigates ongoing conflict.
My forecast: there would be more Cash and Multipurpose Cash Assistance in 2026 than in 2025.
Among the trends for CVA programs for 2026:
- Focus on the vulnerable groups
- Alignment of the programs along the Priority 1 and Priority 2 of Humanitarian Response Plan
- Integration with the Government initiatives, such as housing vouchers and cash for IDPs.
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