What’s the best way to help people in need?

In the past, humanitarian aid has focused on providing shelter and food, but there’s a growing move towards direct cash payments.

We'll take you to Syria, Egypt and Kenya to find out how it works and why it's being embraced.

We speak to Rory Stewart, president of the US charity Give Directly, which is based entirely on direct cash payments. And hear from two women who’ve used some of that money to develop their own small businesses in Kenya.

Elias Abu Ata explains how the International Rescue Committee used cash in the wake of the earthquake in Syria earlier this year, and Rasha Batarseh, UNHCR cash programme officer for Egypt tells us how it’s being used to help refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.

Finally, is cash assistance more vulnerable to fraud? Oliver May, former head of counter fraud at Oxfam, gives his view.

Producer/presenter James Graham Additional production support from Chrystal Onkeo

(Image: Rory Stewart from Give Directly visiting a project in Malawi. Credit: Give Directly.)