As part of the project "Strengthening the resilience of the older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future crises", coordinated by the Red Cross of Serbia, a workshop on self-assessment of Cash and Voucher Assistance capacity (CVA) was organized in Podgorica between 27 and 28 April in the Red Cross of Montenegro. The aim of this workshop was to establish a system and procedures that will enable it in the near future to carry out timely and effective interventions in cash grants for the vulnerable population in Montenegro.

The facilitators of the workshop were colleagues from the Red Cross of Serbia and the Austrian Red Cross, who assisted the employees of the Red Cross of Montenegro to perform the planned self-assessment as well as possible. In addition to the employees of the Red Cross of Montenegro, the self-assessment was performed by the Red Cross Bijelo Polje, the Red Cross Budva, the Red Cross Cetinje and the Red Cross Niksic.

The increased CVA capacity will enable the Red Cross of Montenegro to support vulnerable people affected by the crisis even more effectively and will provide an opportunity for the vulnerable to decide how best to meet the individual needs of their household. In the following period, the project plans to distribute assistance in the form of cash or vouchers for 1,000 older persons and persons with disabilities.

The project "Strengthening the resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities during COVID-19 and future crises" is supported by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency.