Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Beneficiary Data Associate (HER Roster)

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has established the Humanitarian Emergency Response (HER) Roster to support speedy recruitment of qualified and motivated UN Volunteers for potential emergency response assignments. Candidates will be pre-screened based on their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the specific thematic or functional areas described in this Description of Assignment (DoA). Shortlisted candidates may remain in the UNV HER Roster for up to 6 months and be contacted should an emergency arise. Inclusion in the UNV HER Roster does not guarantee recruitment as a UN Volunteer. Selection and recruitment timelines will depend on the emergency occurrence, availability of candidates, and final approval by the UN host entity in accordance with Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers.

Since 2024, UNICEF Viet Nam has implemented Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) programmes in response to multiple shocks and emergencies, supporting vulnerable households with children affected by disasters. The Social Policy and Governance Section leads UNICEF Viet Nam Country Office's cash programming portfolio, coordinating the design and implementation of multi-purpose humanitarian cash assistance and other cash-based interventions in close collaboration with government counterparts at national and sub-national levels.

As humanitarian cash programming has expanded, efficient beneficiary data collection, validation and management have become critical to ensuring timely, accurate and accountable delivery of assistance. While significant progress has been made over the past two years, beneficiary data validation and management remains a key operational challenge affecting the speed and effectiveness of emergency cash responses.

This UN Volunteer assignment is part of UNICEF Viet Nam's humanitarian cash transfer programme, which supports emergency preparedness and response in line with UNICEF's Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action. The Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Beneficiary Data Associate will support beneficiary data validation and management for humanitarian cash transfer programmes using Humanitarian Cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem (HOPE), UNICEF's digital solution for securely collecting, managing and processing beneficiary data to facilitate safe and accountable cash assistance.

The Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Beneficiary Data Associate will work closely with Social Policy and Governance (SPG) team, the Technology for Development Officer, the HOPE technical team, programme sections within UNICEF, implementing partners, and government counterparts to strengthen beneficiary registration, data validation and data quality processes. By enhancing beneficiary data management systems, the assignment will contribute to the timely and effective delivery of humanitarian cash assistance to affected populations during emergencies, including responses to future disasters.

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Officer, Social Policy and Governance Section, the Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Beneficiary Data Management Associate will undertake the following tasks:

Task 1: Support beneficiary data registration, validation and management
• Review beneficiary data submitted by local governments and the Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Field Coordinator to identify duplicates, resolve inconsistencies and ensure data quality and integrity.
• Convert beneficiary information into UNICEF's Humanitarian Cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem (HOPE) standard templates, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain and update beneficiary records in collaboration with the HCT Field Coordinator, ensuring that HOPE and local government datasets remain accurate and consistent.
• Work closely with Programme Officers, and Technology for Development (T4D) Officer to validate data before and after import into HOPE and address any data quality issues.

Task 2: Support beneficiary grievance management and reporting
• Process beneficiary data updates through the HOPE grievance management system, including correcting beneficiary information, updating household composition and assigning alternative collectors, in accordance with UNICEF standard operating procedures.
• Organize grievance tickets and supporting documentation by cash transfer programme to facilitate reconciliation, payment verification and audit requirements.

Task 3: Support the development and improvement of digital beneficiary registration systems
• Support the design, testing and rollout of online beneficiary registration tools in collaboration with the Global HOPE Team, the Technology for Development Officer and relevant UNICEF programme teams.
• Conduct user testing and verify that registration data are accurately imported into HOPE in a timely manner.
• Identify opportunities to improve beneficiary data management processes by documenting lessons learned and recommending digital tools and solutions, including Kobo-based registration and other digital data collection platforms.