The objective of this paper is to unpack the various aspects of the long-standing "cash versus food" debate. It does so by mapping out where the controversies lie and argues for a more pragmatic, balanced and context-specific approach. A key message is that appropriateness cannot be predetermined since programme objectives, market analyses, cost effectiveness and efficiency, capacity requirements and beneficiary preferences, all play a role in determining the most appropriate option or combination of options in a given context.
