Report “Carbon footprint of the Cash and Voucher Assistance modality in ACF activities in 2023”, Action Against Hunger, January 2026

This report presents Action Against Hunger’s analysis of the carbon footprint of cash transfers (CVA) in 2023. It is intended for NGOs, technical partners, and humanitarian actors seeking to better understand the environmental impact of cash transfer interventions.

The study aims to measure the actual carbon footprint generated by the use of transfers, based on actual household expenditures, and to compare these results with theoretical estimates based on Minimum Expenditure Baskets (MEB). It reveals significant discrepancies between models and actual practices and reiterates that these emissions fall under the category of “subsistence emissions”, linked to meeting basic needs.

The report highlights:

• the importance of calculation methods better adapted to local contexts;
• the impossibility of directing household purchases to reduce emissions, for ethical and humanitarian reasons;
• avenues for action to reduce the overall impact of interventions, particularly through market practices, logistics, and more efficient cooking and storage solutions.