Officer, Cash and Voucher Assistance

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191 member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.  

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.  

In the Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean, IFRC maintains a Country Cluster Delegation in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Port of Spain Country Cluster Delegation facilitates support to, cooperation between, representation of, and strengthening of the National Societies of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In its continual transformation journey, the IFRC Secretariat is undertaking changes to be more local, innovative, agile, focused, lean, and effective, driven by five strategic shifts: deepening localization and accountability; sharpening humanitarian focus, influence and impact; intensifying trust and collaboration; accelerating digital transformation; and transforming the Secretariat to be more agile and impactful. Following the massive humanitarian impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, IFRC has launched an Emergency Appeal seeking CHF 19 million (Secretariat funding requirement) to support the Jamaica Red Cross in meeting the immediate and recovery needs of the affected people. The Emergency Appeal operation is categorized as ‘Orange’, and the IFRC is strengthening its in-country presence via Rapid Response mechanism in the short term, with medium to longer-term recruitments to be done over the next few months. Consequently, in line with the IFRC Secretariat “Renewal”, the Country Office for Jamaica is being reactivated to enable closer support to Jamaica Red Cross as it implements the largest humanitarian operation in its recent history. Among the positions to be engaged in this regard is that of Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Officer.

The CVA Officer reports to the Operations Manager. S/he forms a part of the Operations team, and the regional and global CVA teams. The incumbent will provide leadership, guidance, and technical expertise for cash preparedness and cash-based response interventions for the Jamaica Country Office and the wider Port of Spain Country Cluster Delegation when needed.

This position will contribute to the achievement of all IFRC set specific targets for cash, considering having 50% of NSs worldwide using CVA by 2025, ensuring that the Jamaica Red Cross and the Port of Spain Country Cluster Delegation aligns and it is prepared to accomplish this target (mainly IFRC set targets).

Preparedness & Capacity Strengthening

1. Provide strategic and technical cash preparedness support to the Jamaica Red Cross (JRCS) to embed CVA in preparedness and contingency planning, strengthen leadership commitment, and build capacities for small, medium, and largescale emergencies.
2. Map and enhance current CVA related capacities
3. Support development of JRCS CVA SOPs
4. Support assessment and establishment of FSP agreements
5. Ensuring JRCS can implement IFRC global CVA mechanisms
6. Facilitate CVA capacity building through awareness sessions, face-to-face training, simulations, and learning by doing, with remote coaching on CVA feasibility, market assessment, and key tools.
7. Strengthen JRCS communications and advocacy capacity for CVA, including representation in external groups when appropriate.
8. Support JRCS CVA focal points to actively participate in, or lead, in country cash coordination forums.
9. Support JRCS in fulfilling its auxiliary role to government, including linkages to social protection systems.

Programme Design & Implementation

1. Continue implementation of the CVA programme across all applicable sectors within the Hurricane Melissa response and recovery.
2. Support the design of CVA components within key sectors, including livelihoods and shelter, ensuring integration with overall programme strategy.
3. Provide remote and in person technical support on cash feasibility, programme design, implementation, and monitoring of interventions of varying scale, in line with IFRC Cash SOPs and good practices.
4. Promote and support the adaptation of CVA tools—including RCM toolkits—to the local context.
5. Supervise CVA team members to ensure programme activities meet objectives, standards, and timelines.
6. Manage programme risks proactively, escalating key issues to leadership with appropriate mitigation recommendations.
7. Ensure JRCS is actively engaged in programme decision making and receives regular updates through progress reports, executive summaries, and briefings.

Coordination & Representation

1. Represent IFRC in internal and external CVA meetings and contribute to technical, coordination, and advocacy initiatives with Movement partners, donors, government actors, and the wider humanitarian community.
2. Coordinate regularly with IM, PMER, Finance, and other technical units to ensure aligned and coherent CVA programming.

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (PMEAL)

1. Ensure strong planning, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, and reporting systems are in place, enabling effective analysis of programme performance, impact, and efficiency.
2. Ensure all programme reporting—operational, donor, financial, narrative, and indicatorbased—is of high quality, timely, and aligned with IFRC standards.
3. Document JRCS CVA implementation processes, capturing good practices, challenges, and lessons learned to strengthen institutional learning and future preparedness.
4. Lead continuous improvement efforts across the CVA programme to ensure the highest standards of service delivery and accountability.
5. Document the cash preparedness process, and draft case studies to profile the work of the Jamaica Red Cross highlighting good practice and lessons learned.

Regional Cash Preparedness & Technical Support

1. Provide cash preparedness strategical and technical support to the National Societies (NS) across the region in collaboration with Movement partners. This technical support should be centred on getting the “buy in” and commitments from the NS leadership to embed cash in the NS preparedness and contingency planning processes and developing their cash preparedness capacities to meet humanitarian needs in small, medium, and large-scale disasters.
2. Facilitate capacity building for the selected NSs in CVA with awareness sessions, face to face trainings, simulations and learning by doing exercises, with remote support and coaching in key areas such as integrating cash feasibility and market assessment into existing assessment methodologies, developing the tools for CVA, and training relevant NS staff.
3. Be the focal person for Cash in Emergencies in the Dutch & English-Speaking Caribbean, providing technical support to DREFs and Emergency Appeals (EAs), as well as guide the deployment of cash surge capacity or NS personnel who have completed PECT training.
4. Represent the IFRC in internal and external CVA meetings and contribute to technical, coordination, and advocacy initiatives within the RC/RC Movement or with other partners, the wider humanitarian community, donors and the public sector.
5. Contribute to building stronger partnerships, coordinate activities, support better positioning of IFRC and Movement partners, identify areas of collaboration with external key stakeholders such as UN Agencies, International NGOs, and the Private and Academic Sector in the region.

Bachelor’s degree in Disaster Management/ Disaster response or equivalent experience and knowledge (Required)

REQUIRED:

A minimum of five (5) years of successful CVA implementation (i.e.: assessments and market analysis, CVA feasibility, design, implementation, and M&E) and in developing CVA programs that are inclusive and gender-sensitive in at least one context and preferably within the RC/RC Movement

Demonstrated experience in programming in emergency, recovery and development contexts using cash as response tool

Demonstrated experience in assessment which includes needs, market, and cash feasibility considerations

Experience of successful institutional fundraising and managing donor relations and adequate narrative and financial reporting

Proven capacity building experience with NS or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching

Knowledge and experience of working with HNS and PNS

Experience coordinating and advocating to external stakeholders including government, NGOs, UN and Donor organizations

Experience living and working in challenging and multicultural environments

PREFERRED

At least seven years’ experience in disaster management or response in humanitarian operations

Experience with alternative cash transfer delivery mechanisms and working with the private sector

REQUIRED

Sound knowledge of and commitment to a holistic approach to disaster management, with an understanding of recovery through multi sectorial approach

Technical training in design, implementation and monitoring of CVA

Proven skills in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting emergency response that included CVA

Understanding of the key issues relating to delivering cash at scale and skills to address them 

Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically while under pressure

Fluently spoken and written English

PREFERRED

Acquaintance with Federation DM tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, PECT, VCA and others)

Technical training in disaster preparedness, response and recovery

Experience working in insecure environments will be an asset

Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)