Post-Distribution Monitoring minimum guidelines and indicators for

Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance

January 2022

Introduction
Under the Cash Working Group, a Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) Task Force has been created
with the aim to harmonise a minimum PDM guidelines, common indicators and questions to be
standardised across all Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) partners.

PDM is conducted to assess the impact and effectiveness of the cash assistance provided to household
beneficiaries through key indicators. The PDM also gathers feedback from beneficiaries to take in
consideration when doing program design and revisions. The PDM serves as a mid-line and end-line,
allowing data comparison with the vulnerability assessment.

This document outlines the agreed harmonised PDM approach highlighting the minimum
requirements for PDM and listing the indicators and questions.

This set of questions is the minimum requirements to be incorporated on each organization’s tool,
which can be complemented with other internal questions and indicators as per own organization
requirements and needs.

The aim of standardising these questions is to ensure that minimum indicators for Cash Assistance are
incorporated. Also, this will facilitate the information sharing to inform MPCA strategy revisions and
adjustments.

PDM minimum standards

The minimum requirements for conducting PDM are the following:

Frequency

The PDM is conducted 4 weeks after the disbursement of cash to beneficiaries, since the transfer value
aims to cover one month of basic needs and to ensure that the assistance had an impact to the
household. The frequency is structured as follows:

Beneficiary category PDM frequency

R2 Beneficiaries under this category receive 2 transfers in a lumpsum. The
transfer value aims to cover 2 months but receiving it as a one-off
assistance. The survey will be conducted 4 weeks and 8 weeks after
disbursing the cash assistance, to monitor the impact across the 2 months
of assistance that the transfer value is meant to cover.
 R4 Beneficiaries under this category receive 4 transfers on a monthly basis, for
a period of 4 months. The survey will be conducted 4 weeks after each cash
distribution, therefore there will be data collection 4 times.

Sample size

Partners have flexibility to calculate the number of beneficiaries to be interviewed. The

recommendation is to select a sample size that can be representative of the total number of
beneficiaries. The minimum sample size can be calculated by either 20% of the total number of
beneficiaries or a 90% level of confidence and 10% margin of error. The sampling is a random selection
of beneficiaries.

It is also recommended to calculate the sample dividing the beneficiaries per categories. The number
of beneficiaries to be interviewed are calculated applying a sample size to R2 beneficiaries and a
sample size to R4 beneficiaries. This will ensure a better representation of both categories, since the
impact of the assistance can be different. The sampling should be based on geographical location.

The sample should include the same beneficiaries to be interviewed after each round of distributions.

Modality

Partners can conduct the surveys either in person or by phone depending on the context. The modality
should ensure data quality.

Data sharing

Every quarter, partners will share with the CWG Coordinators the anonymised datasets of the PDM
surveys. The datasets should not contain any personal beneficiary data (names, phone number, etc.).
The partner organization can decide to share only the datasets with the minimum harmonised
questions or the whole questions included in the PDM.

The CWG will use this data to inform MPCA strategy and operations and will share main findings with
all the partners. This is top-level data excluding any beneficiary personal or individual information.

Basic questions
The analysis of the data is disaggregated at the following levels:

⮚ Location: By governorate and district

⮚ Beneficiary Status: IDP, Returnee, Host Community, Refugee
⮚ Gender: Male and Female
⮚ Marital status: Single, Married, Divorced, Separated, Widowed, Spouse is missing
⮚ Number of individuals in the Household: Including the respondent

This beneficiary data is usually collected at the Household assessment stage. If this data can be
correlated between the assessment and the PDM, the questions are not needed to be included in the
PDM again. These are questions that are relevant for the disaggregation based on HH profiles.
Output indicators
Assistance received
Total amount of money received Specify the total amount and the currency
Which delivery mechanism was used to deliver The options will vary depending on the existing
your cash assistance? delivery mechanisms of each organization and
if the organization would like to ask the specific
Financial Service Provider as well

Beneficiary communication and accountability

Did you receive enough information about the Yes, all the information I needed
project during the whole process? Yes, but not enough
Very limited information
No information at all
Are you aware of the feedback and complaints Yes
mechanism? No
Which feedback and complaints mechanism do Organization’s Hotline
you prefer? Iraqi Information Call Center
In person to organization’s staff
Complaints box
Local authorities
Other, please specify

Compliance/Fraud
Did anyone ask you for payment at any point in Yes
the process (from registration to collection of No
assistance even after collection of the Prefer not to say
assistance)?

Market access and functionality

Were the items you needed available in your Yes, all of them
local market? Yes, but only some of them
Yes, but they were too expensive
Items were not available
Did you experience any difficulties No difficulty
travelling/going to the market? Which ones Distance/time taken to travel
Insecurity
Lack of transport
Difficulty due to disability
Other

Household expenditure
What did you spend the cash assistance on? Food
Water
Hygiene items
Health costs
Medicines
 Rent
Shelter repair
Shelter maintenance
Shelter NFI
Clothes/shoes
Utilities and bills
Assets for a livelihood activity
Children's Education
Transport
Communication
Electricity
Debt repayment
Saved some money
Gave some to other family members/relatives
/friends
Legal assistance/documents
Other
How much of your assistance did you spend on Food
the following categories in IQD? Water
Hygiene items
Health costs
Medicines
Rent
Shelter repair
Shelter maintenance
Shelter NFI
Clothes/shoes
Utilities and bills
Assets for a livelihood activity
Children's Education
Transport
Communication
Electricity
Debt repayment
Saved some money
Gave some to other family members/relatives
/friends
Legal assistance/documents
Other
How long did the cash last before it was all Number of days
spent?

HH and community dynamics as a result of MPCA

Who in the household decides how to spend Male spouse
the cash received? Female spouse
Jointly
All members
 Other
Did receiving cash cause any conflict within the Yes
household? No
Prefer not to answer
Are you aware of any conflict, tension or No conflict
disagreement that arose in your community as Beneficiary selection
a result of the cash distribution? Distribution process
Way the cash was spent or given away by
beneficiaries
Impact of the distribution on the local
livelihoods
Impact of the distribution on the local markets
Other

Satisfaction
To what extent were you satisfied with the Very satisfied, nothing could have been better
process of receiving your cash assistance (from Satisfied
registration to cashing out)? Somewhat satisfied, but could have been better
Not satisfied
Very unsatisfied
If somewhat, not satisfied or very unsatisfied, Free to keep it as an open question or adding
why? relevant options to the organization/program
What is your preferred assistance method? Cash
Please explain why? Voucher
In-kind

Are you satisfied with the amount of cash you Very satisfied, nothing could have been better
received? Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied, but could have been better
Not satisfied
Very unsatisfied
If somewhat, not satisfied or very unsatisfied, Free to keep it as an open question or adding
why? relevant options to the organization/program

Outcome Indicators
Accessing basic needs
How much of your Basic Needs (Rent, Food, All
Hygiene Items, Electricity, Water, Most
Transportation and Communication) were you Some
able to meet? None
Which of your household’s basic needs can you Food
not afford? Water
Hygiene items
Health care
Medicines
Rent
Shelter repair
Shelter maintenance
 Shelter NFI
Clothes/shoes
Utilities and bills
Children's Education
Transport
Communication
Electricity
Debt repayment
Legal assistance/documents
Other

HH income
What were your household’s primary income Regular employment in private sector
sources of the last 30 days (do not read out Regular employment in public sector
loud from list)? Temporary or daily wage-earning employment
Own business
Remittances
Retirement fund or pension
Selling household assets
Selling the assistance received
MoDM cash assistance
Support from the community, friends and
family (including borrowing money)
NGO or charity assistance
Social services (disability allowance)
Illegal or socially degrading activities (eg.
Unlawful sales, begging, etc)
Social protection network
Humanitarian aid
Other safety nets
Other

HH expenditure
In the last 30 days, how much did your Food
household spend on (in IQD): Water
Hygiene items
Health costs
Medicines
Rent
Shelter repair
Shelter maintenance
Shelter NFI
Clothes/shoes
Utilities and bills
Assets for a livelihood activity
Children's Education
Transport
 Communication
Electricity
Debt repayment
Saved some money
Gave some to other family members/relatives
/ friends
Legal assistance/documents
Other

Negative Coping Strategies

During the past 30 days, did anyone in your Selling household property
household have to do one of the following Spending savings
things because there was not enough food or Buying food on credit or through borrowed
money to buy it? money from relatives and friends
Selling means of transport
Children dropout from school
Reducing expenditure on non-food items
(health, education)
Changing place of residence and
accommodation to reduce expenses
Accepting that adult males of the family are
engaging in risky behavior (for example
behaviours that can result in harm to physical
health, mental health, jail time, social stigma)
Accepting that adult females of the family are
engaging in risky behavior (for example
behaviours that can result in harm to physical
health, mental health, jail time, social stigma)
Children under 18 work to provide resources
Anyone in family migrating
Attending banquets held on religious and social
events to have food
Child marriage
Forced marriage (for adults)
Other
During the last 7 days, how many times, in Shifting towards cheaper and less quality food
days, did your household have to employ one items
of the following strategies to cope with a lack of Borrowing food or asking assistance from
food or money to buy it? relatives and friends
Reducing the number of daily meals
Consume less food during meals
Curbing the adults’ need to ensure food needs
of children

Food Consumption Score

How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Cereals, grains, roots and
tubers (rice, pasta, bread, potato)? (0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Legumes/nuts (beans,
peanuts, lentils, nut, soy and/or other nuts? (0-
7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume ) Milk and other dairy
products (fresh milk, yogurt, cheese, other dairy
products, excluding margarine/butter or small
amounts of milk for tea/coffee)? (0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Meat, fish and eggs (goat,
beef, chicken, fish including canned tuna and/or
other seafood, eggs)? (0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume vegetables and leaves
(spinach, onion, tomatoes, carrots, peppers,
green beans, lettuce, cabbages, eggplant)? (0-7
days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Fruits (banana, apple,
lemon, mango, watermelon, apricot, peach,
pineapple, passion, gishta, orange, avocado,
wild fruits, etc.)? (0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Oils, fats and butter
(vegetable oil, palm oil, margarine, other fats)?
(0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Sugar or sweets (honey,
jam, cakes, candy, cookies, pastries, cakes and
other sweets)? (0-7 days)
How many days in the past 7 days did your 0-7 days
household consume Condiments and spices
(tea, coffee, cocoa, salt, garlic, spices, yeast,
lanwin, tomato)? (0-7 days)

Debt
What is the total cumulative amount of debt Amount in IQD
incurred to date? (IQD)
What is the total amount of debt incurred in Amount in IQD
the last 30 days only? (IQD)
What is your total amount of savings currently Amount in IQD
(IQD)?

Priority needs
What are your family’s top (4) priority needs? Food
Water
Hygiene items
Health care
Medicines
Rent
 Shelter repair
Shelter maintenance
Shelter NFI
Clothes/shoes
Utilities and bills
Children's Education
Transport
Communication
Debt repayment
Legal assistance/documents
Productive assets
Employment
Cash
Other

Impact of MPCA to HH
How did this cash assistance help you? To pay debts
To pay rent
To meet basic needs
To purchase household items
To help others by giving them some money
To invest in a small business
To help to build / rehabilitate my house
To feel better
To improve my health condition
Other
It did not help my current situation
Other
To what extent did the assistance not help Assistance amount not enough
improve your overall situation? Assistance ran out too quickly
Wrong type of assistance
Assistance only provide short-term relief
Other
To what extent do you agree that these impacts Improved your living conditions
will continue in the coming month? Reduced the financial burden of your
household
Reduced feelings of stress
Follow-up questions:
Why do you think these impacts will continue
into the coming month?
Why do you think these impacts will not
continue into the coming month?

Fears/Human Insecurity Scale

How did you feel while collecting the cash? Safe
Unsafe
If unsafe, could you please explain why? Open question