The carbon footprint of the CVA modality at Action Against Hunger 2025

As part of its growing commitment to the ecological transition and environmental accountability, Action Against Hunger France has initiated an in-depth analysis of the carbon footprint of its Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) program. This initiative follows on from the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment (BEGES) conducted for 2021, which revealed that CVA activities accounted for nearly 38% of the organization’s total emissions. This finding raised a crucial question: how can we accurately assess the environmental impact of a program whose very essence lies in the autonomy and freedom of choice granted to beneficiary households?

The available methods, particularly the use of Minimum Expenditure Baskets (MEBs), rely on theoretical approaches that may diverge from the actual practices of beneficiary households. To provide a more accurate and robust picture, Action Against Hunger France conducted an in-depth study in 2023 based on actual funds transferred usage data in eight countries where it operates.

The objective of this approach is twofold:

• to improve understanding of the actual carbon footprint associated with the CVA modality, by seeking, on the one hand, to understand in detail and with documentation how cash transfers are actually used by the target populations; and on the other hand, to assess to what extent current methods of quantifying emissions, largely based on the use of Minimum Expenditure Baskets (MEBs), accurately reflect the realities observed on the ground.
• to contribute to sectoral discussions on measuring and reducing the environmental impacts of humanitarian responses, particularly CVA, in a spirit of sharing, transparency, and collective improvement with a view to better integrating the environmental dimension into humanitarian responses.