Consultant, Evaluation of the Cash and Voucher Assistance Response in Hurricane Melissa

Vacancy No.S18373Category of ContractConsultantPosition TypeConsultantApplication Deadline20/08/2026Job Posted On12/08/2026Duty StationGlobalCountryGLOBAL Different LocationsGradeConsultant, Not ApplicableDuration01 September to 09 October 2026

Organizational Context

Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, the Jamaica Red Cross Society (JRCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Movement partners, implemented a Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) programme to support affected households in meeting their immediate and recovery needs.

The response was implemented through a combination of membership wide resources, IFRC technical support and surge deployments, including support from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). The operation also utilized innovative digital tools, including AccessRC, to support affected households’ registration, data management and programme implementation.

As the operation concludes, JRCS and IFRC seek to evaluate the overall performance, results and lessons of the CVA intervention. The findings will contribute to organizational learning, accountability and continuous improvement of future cash responses in Jamaica and the Caribbean region.

An evaluation is planned separately to capture operational and process-oriented lessons from the response with particular focus on CVA given its strategic and innovative value. This evaluation complements the After Action Review (AAR) conducted from operations by assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and strategic value of the CVA intervention and identifying recommendations for future preparedness and response.

Job Purpose

The overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the relevance, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the CVA response implemented by JRCS and its partners and to generate evidence-based recommendations to strengthen future CVA preparedness and emergency response capacities.

Specifically, the evaluation seeks to:

  • Assess the appropriateness of CVA as a response modality.
  • Evaluate the extent to which the response achieved its intended objectives.
  • Examine the efficiency and timeliness of implementation.
  • Assess the contribution of AccessRC and other operational systems to programme performance.
  • Review accountability, community engagement and safeguarding measures; particularly with the use of self-registration.
  • Assess organizational preparedness and readiness for emergency CVA implementation.
  • Identify good practices, lessons learned and areas requiring improvement that could be used for future responses of JRCS as well as preparedness for upcoming Hurricane season.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluation Objectives

The evaluation will:

  1. Assess whether the CVA response was relevant and appropriate to the needs and priorities of affected populations.
  2. Determine the extent to which programme objectives and intended outcomes were achieved.
  3. Examine factors that supported or constrained effective and timely delivery.
  4. Assess the efficiency of resource utilization and implementation systems.
  5. Review coordination, leadership and decision-making arrangements that influenced programme performance.
  6. Examine accountability, inclusion and safeguarding practices throughout implementation.
  7. Assess JRCS preparedness and institutional capacity for future CVA scale-up.
  8. Identify actionable recommendations and priorities for future CVA programming and preparedness.

Scope of the Evaluation

The evaluation will cover all CVA activities implemented under the Hurricane Melissa response operation, from preparedness and response analysis through implementation, monitoring and completion of cash assistance activities.

The evaluation will examine programme performance at strategic, operational and community levels and include perspectives from affected populations, JRCS staff and volunteers, IFRC personnel, surge teams, service providers and relevant external stakeholders.

Audience

The evaluation will be used by the following stakeholders:

  • JRCS leadership/Operational/Technical teams
  • IFRC Country Delegation / Country Cluster / Regional Office / Global Operations
  • Partner National Societies supporting JRCS
  • National Societies in the Caribbean seeking to strengthen CVA preparedness and response

Evaluation Criteria and Key Evaluation Questions

The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the IFRC Evaluation Framework and Standards. The assessment will examine the performance of the CVA response across key areas relevant to emergency cash and voucher assistance, including programme relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness, coordination and implementation arrangements, accountability to affected people, safeguarding, and organizational preparedness and capacity development.

A detailed Evaluation Matrix, including the evaluation criteria, evaluation questions, indicators and proposed data sources, can be found here.

The evaluator(s) may refine and further develop the Evaluation Matrix during the inception phase in consultation with the Jamaica Red Cross Society (JRCS) and IFRC to ensure that it adequately reflects the operational context, intended users and learning objectives of the evaluation.

Methodology

The evaluation should employ a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

Methods may include:

  • Desk review of programme documentation
  • Key informant Interviews (KIIs)
  • Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
  • Household interviews and surveys where appropriate
  • Review and analysis of programme performance data
  • Review of AccessRC related operational data and documentation
  • Triangulation of findings from multiple data sources

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Data collection should ensure meaningful participation of diverse population groups, including women, men, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The evaluation should follow ethical standards and responsible data management approaches including informed consent, confidentiality, do no harm and responsible data management. Any use of beneficiary data whether collected via AccessRC or other means should comply with data protection policies and requirements.

Deliverables

The evaluator(s) will be expected to provide:

  1. Inception Phase – Inception report including methodology, Evaluation Matrix, Data collection tools, and workplan.
  2. Fieldwork and Analysis Phase – Preliminary findings presentation to the Evaluation Management Team, Debrief Workshop.
  3. Reporting Phase – Draft evaluation report, Final evaluation report that includes an executive summary, methodology, limitations, findings, conclusions, lessons learned, and prioritized recommendations.

Management and Governance

The consultant will directly report to the Evaluation Management Team (EMT) that will be responsible for overseeing the logistical and process for the evaluation, securing approval of deliverables, and quality control. The EMT will include representatives from:

  • Jamaica Red Cross Society
  • IFRC Country / Cluster Delegation / Regional Office
  • IFRC CVA Technical team

Timeline

Duration: 01 September – 09 October 2026

The indicative timetable for the evaluation can be found here.

Education

Required

  • Master’s degree in international development, social sciences, humanitarian assistance or other related fields.

Experience

Required

  • Proven experience in conducting and leading emergency response evaluation or research and evaluation in humanitarian or similar contexts.
  • Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
  • Experience in participatory approaches to evaluations.
  • Experience in managing teams remotely and comfortable working with online platforms.

Preferred

  • Experience with remote methodologies for consultations.
  • Experience in the Caribbean region.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

  • Strong expertise in Cash and Voucher Assistance.
  • Familiarity with IFRC systems and emergency operations.
  • Familiarity with different data collection and analysis tools and software.
  • Good knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and an ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills in English (reference and production of at least one sample required).
  • Familiarity with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and its disaster management system.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions and to prepare well‐written reports in a timely manner.
  • Good team player and familiarity with working with people from different cultures/contexts.
  • Should not have been involved or have a vested interest in the IFRC operation being reviewed.

Preferred

  • Knowledge of response and protection mechanisms.
  • Knowledge of cross-cutting issues, including protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) and community engagement and accountability (CEA).

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instructions

  • Please submit your application in English only.
  • Please include the following documents in your application:
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV).
    • One-page cover letter clearly summarizing experience as it pertains to this consultancy and brief explanation of approach or methodologies that will be taken with high-level timeline.
    • Proposed costs with breakdown by deliverables, including consultant daily rates(in Swiss Francs- CHF) and estimated person days.
    • Contact details for professional references from three previous clients.
    • One example of a previous evaluation report you have authored.
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