Senior Officer, Cash and Voucher

Organizational Context

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 (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” 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 IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability and (iv) People and Strategy.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

This Job Description pertains to the Regional Cash and Vouchers Assistance (CVA) Senior Officer. The position is based in Budapest, Hungary and provides support to all National Societies in the region. The incumbent may be asked to travel to any area covered by the Regional Office.

Job Purpose

The Regional CVA Officer is responsible for supporting the IFRC’s work on CVA in the region in line with relevant policy documents and frameworks, including the IFRC Global CVA Strategy. The role has a strong focus on providing technical support and quality assurance of cash and vouchers assistance and preparedness initiatives undertaken by:

• the National Societies in response to Ukraine Crisis
• the wider set of National Societies in the IFRC Europe region

Special attention will be provided to quality assurance, coordination and mainstreaming RCRC Movement cash and market approaches, guidance, tools across operations in these NSs.

Reporting to the Manager, Operations Coordination, the Regional CVA Senior Officer provides a technical support role for CVA preparedness and response to ensure the optimal coordination, and direct or indirect management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of CVA throughout the region. The incumbent also ensures broader coherence across IFRC's related portfolio of activities including close collaboration with colleagues across other departments.

Furthermore, the incumbent will ensure effective representation at various levels and will liaise with key stakeholders, both Red Cross/Red Crescent (RCRC) and non-RCRC partners including UN/INGOs, and where required, Government and financial institutions to ensure representation of IFRC and/or RCRCM at relevant forums. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

CVA Technical Support and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical support on CVA to National Societies and IFRC country cluster teams in the Europe region to deliver CVA responses that are predictable, replicable, and applicable to all sectors, programs, and phases of the disaster/crisis response cycle.
• Ensure CVA technical quality assurance in all documents, including their Plan of Action and budget, Operations Updates, Sitreps and other relevant documents, making sure that all the cash and markets components are adequately planned and implemented based on evidence: and that CVA responses are transparent and accountable.
• Support with the identification of suitable and innovative delivery mechanisms at country and/or regional level for cost effective delivery of CVA. Work closely with finance and procurement units to carry out procurement processes for finalizing and managing contracts with financial services providers.

CVA Operations

• Provide technical support to the CVA interventions undertaken by IFRC and National Societies.
• Contribute to the development of necessary CVA tools and templates, standardized for CVA responses; and ensure that these are made available to NSs. This includes the continued roll out of the self-registration model and technical advice and support to sectoral leads.
• In close coordination with Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER), develop and implement M&E plans for CVA interventions.
• Ensure that appropriate feedback mechanisms are in place for CVA responses and regular updates are collected and reflected in all the relevant reports.
• Monitor and maintain updated information and statistics on the use of CVA within the region and present this information for the IFRC management, donors report and other parties.

CVA Preparedness

• Cooperate with National Societies in development and implementation of Plan of Action and provide technical support during key CVA Preparedness milestones such as CVA Preparedness self-assessment capacity workshop, Standard Operating Procedures workshop, establishment of framework agreement with Financial Service Provider, etc.
• Contribute to coordination of CVA Preparedness programs with other capacity building initiatives such as National Society Preparedness for Effective Response and National Society Development.
• Coordinate CVA Preparedness activities with broader network of partnering National Societies to ensure optimal and effective cooperation between Movement components.
• Support organization and facilitation of CVA training organized on Regional and National Society level such as CVA Level II, PECT, RAM, MAAT, etc.

Internal and External Coordination

• Support and actively contribute to the effective running of RCRC Movement CVA Regional Community of Practice and relevant cash working groups.
• Engage and represent IFRC in external regional CVA and markets coordination structures and initiatives by representing IFRC and promoting participation of National Societies.
• Participate 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 public sector.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

General

• Contributes to the development of proposals for funding for CVA initiatives and activities.
• In cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, implement any grants for activities and provide grant management functions as necessary to fulfil IFRC implementation and reporting commitments to donors.
• Collaborate with the CVA Community of Practice and other relevant stakeholders to review/amend and assess progress against the regional CVA roadmap.
• Collaborate with the Regional CVA Preparedness Delegate and Preparedness Coordinator to support CVA Preparedness activities of the NSs throughout the region. Support and deliver capacity building processes such as implementing face-to-face trainings, learning by doing exercises, simulations, pilots and remote/face-to-face coaching.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of key cash advocacy messages and policies among IFRC Delegations and NSs.
• Provide support as needed to IFRC CVA focal points with the country or cluster delegations.
• Support the development and documentation of regional learning, reviews, evaluations and case studies; with focus on CVA operational and programmatic challenges, use of CVA in a wide range of humanitarian contexts, lessons learned; good practices and recommendations that can be applied in the future. Contribute to sharing and dissemination of regional and global CVA knowledge.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen the links between humanitarian cash activity and shock responsive safety nets and national social protection mechanisms.

Duties applicable to all staff
1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required

• University degree in Disaster Management / Disaster response or equivalent experience and knowledge
• Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge

Preferred

• Practical Cash in Emergencies Training (PECT) 

Experience

Required

• 5 years’ experience in providing CVA support in a disaster or crisis response and recovery context   
• Experience in successfully implementing and coordinating humanitarian emergency response operations that include CVA in at least one context, preferably within the RC/RC Movement.
• Experience building a network and/or team
• Experience facilitating training on CVA-related skills
• Experience living and working in challenging and multicultural environments
• Proven capacity building experience with National Society or equivalent, delivering trainings and providing on the job training and coaching (preferable CVA and market trainings)
• Experience in project planning, monitoring and reporting 
• Experience in proposal writing  
• Experience of managing donor relations and providing adequate narrative and financial reporting
• Demonstrated experience in different aspects of CVA implementation (i.e.: assessments and market analysis, CVA feasibility, design, implementation and M&E) and in developing CVA programmes that are inclusive and gender sensitive
• Experience in the Europe and Central Asia Region

Preferred

• 5 years’ experience working with any other humanitarian organization preferably with RCRCM

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

KNOWLEGDE AND SKILLS

Required

• Self-supporting in digital and software (including Excel, internet, email)
• Skills in developing and training staff
• Skills in negotiation and building relations
• Technical/professional knowledge within the areas of CVA in humanitarian and/or development contexts, with an emphasis on the ability to design, implement and monitor cash responses, in a variety of contexts and in an inclusive manner
• Solid and tested team coordination and/or support skills

LANGUAGES

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

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

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgment and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.

Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.