INTRODUCTION
In 2012, socio-political unrest in Mali resulted in the displacement of more than 50,000 thousands refugees to Niger. In early 2013, 7,000 of them were settled in Niamey. Save the Children and UNHCR developed a multi-sectorial response to assist this population. Among the activities, a four-month cash transfer component was planned, as a means to help refugee households to meet their basic and immediate needs. This component targeted 625 households, which were divided into two groups of the same size receiving cash on a monthly basis: one through mobile phones and the other through a micro finance institution (MFI). This design aimed at comparing the use of these two mechanisms in an urban context with a refugee population. The present study was carried out after the third distribution. Its objectives were: to investigate the effectiveness of mobile cash as compared to MFI transfers; to understand beneficiaries’ preferences; and to identify potential advantages and challenges of the mobile phone technology. The study involved a preliminary literature review and seven days of fieldwork, during which interviews with key informants and beneficiaries, as well as group discussions with beneficiaries were conducted.