Cash-Based Interventions Officer

Cash-Based Interventions Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Cash-Based Interventions Officer assists in planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating cash- based interventions (CBIs) for Persons of Concern. The incumbent ensures that cash and vouchers are routinely considered as a response option in the respective operation or region, are complementary to other types of assistance and are planned, implemented and monitored in line with best practice and organizational guidance. The incumbent plays an important role in promoting capacity-building of UNHCR personnel and partners, and in advocacy, information and communication on cash and voucher-related issues.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
In collaboration with the country teams and building on on-going programmes and country experience, a multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholder strategy is developed for cash-based response for refugees and hosting populations.
Technical advice are provided to UNHCR and partner organisations on the implementation of the multi-purpose cash-based response for shelter, non-food, food items and other essential needs, including various steps of the project cycle such as identification, registration, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
A coherent operational plan is developed concentrating on the systems of targeting, delivery and monitoring of the cash-based assistance.
Mapping of cash programming actors in the country amongst refugees and refugee hosting communities is done and the cash initiatives are coordinated amongst these populations in country, including cash or voucher-based food assistance

Responsibility
- Provide technical support and guidance on all aspects related to CBIs, incl. assessments, planning and budgeting, technical choices, legal and regulatory aspects, implementation modalities and coordination.
- Review and provide technical inputs on reports and programme proposals.
- Assist in negotiating implementing partner and financial service provider agreements.
- Assist in defining and promoting an integrated vision of providing assistance which incorporates in-kind and cash and/or voucher modalities to meet UNHCR objectives.
- Facilitate capacity building and training of programme, protection, ICT, finance/admin, supply/procurement personnel on various aspects of CBIs.
- Help to sustain and expand a network of strategic and operational partners (incl. UN agencies, INGOs, research institutions, private entities) to ensure complementarity and efficiency and share lessons learned.
- Advocate with government, donors, etc. on all issues relating to CBIs in the region and contribute to UNHCR's resource mobilization efforts.
- Participate and represent UNHCR at coordination meetings and Cash Working Groups and share information of UNHCR's programmes.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a practicable strategy to institutionalize and scale up the use of CBIs in UNHCR operations throughout the region.
- Support the development and dissemination of policies, operational guidance, instructions, tools and analytical frameworks aimed at ensuring the technical integrity of cash-based programmes.
- Develop network of country focal points and CBI programme managers and facilitate their training and capacity building.
- Undertake technical support missions across the region and be available for rapid deployment if needed.
- Advocate for adequate resourcing of CBIs, including the deployment of qualified technical specialist staff.
- Perform any other related duties.

Authority
- Communicate clear guidance and minimum standards to all stakeholders that will build local capacities and improve the quality of cash programmes.
- Represent UNHCR's position of cash intervention in the various working groups and with its partners and other UN, donor, international agencies.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Economics, Management, Social Sciences, Nutrition or a related field.
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant (international) job experience with (8 years with University/Bachelor Degree) and at least 2 years in an inter-governmental organization.
- Demonstrated technical skills in planning and managing cash assistance.
- Demonstrated expertise in feasibility studies, assessments and surveys; needs and response analysis; cash transfer programming, setting up and monitoring of systems.
- Solid skills in analysis, using and presenting quantitative and qualitative data, and report writing.
- Familiarity with community-based and participatory approaches.
- Broad knowledge of key actors involved in developing policies and programmes related to cash-based assistance: International and non-governmental organizations, research institutes.
- Excellent written and spoken English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Prior work experience in the region.
- Inter-agency coordination experiences.
- Arabic language.