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Cash-Based Interventions Officer

N'Djamena

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: N'Djamena
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Cash-Based Interventions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Cash-Based Interventions Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Cash-Based Interventions (CBIs) Officer will ensure that cash and vouchers are routinely considered as a response option in both emergency and protracted situations within the area of responsibility (AoR), are complementary of other types of assistance and are planned, implemented and monitored in line with best practice and organizational guidance. The incumbent plays a role in programme coordination, planning, monitoring and evaluation as well as promoting capacity-building of UNHCR personnel and partners, and advocacy, information and communication on cash and voucher-related issues.

S/he will liaise with Sub/Field offices within the AoR, DPSM/Cash-Based Interventions Section, and the Regional Bureau/Desk. S/he supports and, where applicable, provides guidance to the growing network of UNHCR CBIs focal points and officers as well as to Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, line ministries and UN agencies, particularly WFP.

S/he will provide policy and guidance on CBIs, provide information on specific technical guidelines, briefings, trainings, provide input on evaluation documents, carry out assessments, facilitate contact with WFP, other partners and financial institutions, advise on local agreements, review reports, consult on technical protocols and standard operating procedures, advise on specific cash-based interventions, , contribute to advocacy and support fundraising.

S/he will coordinate approaches and strengthen/develop strategic partnerships with other country/regional UN agencies including WFP, NGOs as well as private sector partners involved in CBIs, to share information, experiences, carry out joint assessments and feasibility studies, produce joint guidelines, implement joint projects where appropriate, seek new opportunities for collaboration, seek financial and technical support, conduct joint trainings and operational research.

The incumbent holds a professional position responsible for provision of technical support and advice as well as advice on strategic planning and policy making on activities within the area of CBIs as an integral part of UNHCR programmes.

The CBIs Officer will receive overall guidance and direction from the Representative and normally report to the Assistant Representative (Programme) or a Senior Programme or Operations Officer. S/he will maintain close links with the CBI Section in UNHCR HQ.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- CBIs are consistently considered as a response option across the AoR. CBIs are feasible, appropriate, technically-sound, cost-effective, innovative, sustainable and complimentary to other forms of assistance. Where applicable, this is done in close partnership with WFP and/or other partners.
- CBIs are designed and implemented according to UNHCR guidelines and good practice established, with the overall objective of contributing to the well-being of beneficiaries. Strong technical expertise and support on all aspects is provided to the countries.
- A country CBIs action plan is in place which identifies opportunities and a concrete and realistic way forward for starting new CBIs as well as scaling up existing CBIs over time.

Responsibility
- Contribute to Strengthening of the organization¿s role as the country reference agency for CBIs in displacement settings by developing and implementing a practicable strategy to institutionalise and scale up the use of CBIs throughout UNHCR country operation.
- Support the development and dissemination of policies, operational guidance, instructions, tools and analytical frameworks aimed at ensuring the technical integrity of cash-based programmes, building on existing guidance and tools wherever possible.
- Liaise with technical sectors (shelter, public health, livelihoods, energy, registration, data management, etc.) and protection colleagues in the country office to integrate CBIs into existing approaches, tools and strategies.
- Contribute to defining and promoting an integrated vision of providing assistance which incorporates in-kind and cash and voucher modalities to meet UNHCR objectives.
- Maintain regular contact with the Cash-Based Interventions Section at HQ to ensure appropriate backstopping, the application and dissemination of best practice and the collection of lessons learned.
- 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.
- Where appropriate, encourage the development of a common platform for provision of assistance (food and/or non-food) between UNHCR and other agencies/partners.
- Coordinate internally; incl. with technical sectors at country and regional level, DPSM technical sections, DIP, Bureaux and DER.
- Provide technical support in emergencies and ongoing displacement situations through technical assistance and advice on all aspects related to CBIs, including assessments, planning and budgeting, technical choices, legal and regulatory aspects, implementation modalities and coordination.
- Review and provide technical inputs on reports and programme proposals.
- Support the establishment and engage with multi-functional teams implementing CBIs; facilitate capacity strengthening of programme, protection, ICT, finance/admin, supply/procurement personnel on various aspects of CBIs.
- Identify skill and knowledge gaps and help country office address these through training, recruitment, etc.
- Advocate within UNHCR for adequate resourcing of CBIs, including the deployment of qualified technical specialist staff.

Authority
- Provide technical support and guidance on overall strategy, design, implementation and reporting on CBIs in the AoR.
- Make judgments on the quality of project proposals coming from implementing partners.
- Represent UNHCR in relevant meetings related to CBIs.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Economics, Social Sciences or a related field plus minimum 6 years of previous job experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Proven knowledge and technical skills in set up, design, implementation and monitoring of CBIs from a multi-sectoral perspective.
- Experience in working effectively with NGOs, UN organisations, or government authorities at national level.
- Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Working knowledge of an additional UN language and/or the local language.
- Experience in conducting AGDM and multi-functional assessments.
- Good knowledge of UNHCR programmes and UNHCR programming.
- Training and capacity building of refugees, government and implementing partners.
-       Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Cash-Based Interventions Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

The main purpose of the position as Associate Cash Based Intervention Officer is to strengthen the systematic use of cash based modalities and coordinate the implementation of cash based projects. Build capacity of UNHCR staffs and partners on cash based interventions. The position will be based in N¿Djamena.
The Cash Based Interventions Officer will work closely with the Assistant Representative (Ops) in Ndjamena and under his supervision he/she will,
¿ Contribute to the design, planning and implementation of CBI activities supported by UNHCR Chad.
¿ Work actively with the CBI Officer in Ndjamena, the HOSO in collaboration with other functional units and the local MFT for CBI in the planning and design of market studies and other assessments related to the country operation CBI programme design and implementation.
¿ Play an active role in the coordination activities of the local CBI multifunctional Team.
¿ Contribute to the design and budgeting process of CBI plan of the Sub office.
¿ Contribute to the conduct of ex-Ante analysis of cost efficiency effectiveness and externalities through relevant data collection and compilation.
¿ Prepare CBI distribution plans based on assistance schedule.
¿ Ensure coordination of activities with partners across multisector Cash Based projects with respect to the UNHCR CBI guidelines and procedures.
¿ Develop internal (UNHCR staff) and external capacity (partners) with the aim of empowering the Sub office to effectively and fully manage CBI plans.
¿ Conduct and supervise monitoring of activities as well as contribute to the development of monitoring tools in collaboration with CBI section and others functional sections.
¿ Provide relevant monitoring reports to best inform programmatic decisions and implementation review on CBI projects. ¿ In collaboration with cooperating partners and others functional sections ensure quality control of CBI projects design, implementation, monitoring and reporting with respect of Partner Project Agreement (PPA).
¿ Contribute to performance analysis reports on CBI planned results as well as on implementation CBI expansion plan.
¿ Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned with CBI section and others functional units for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
¿ In collaboration with the CBI section and others functional sections contribute to the preparation of donors reports, briefs and other information products on UNHCR¿s operations;
¿ Perform any other related duty as may be required by UNHCR Sub office Management. Chad is home to 387,000 refugees including Sudanese, CAR, Nigerian as well as urban refugees. CAR refugees (69,000) sought asylum in Chad for more than decade and are mainly hosted in camps.
While waiting for return conditions to be met in their country of origin, refugees benefit from humanitarian assistance as an urgent and immediate response to a humanitarian situation caused by the sudden departure from their country of origin. WFP provided food assistance, when UNHCR concentrated on non food items as well as services including water/sanitation, Health/Nutrition, education, livelihoods.
For all refugees and specificlly for the protracted CAR refugees who spent more than a decade in Chad with no prospect for repatriation, strategies were reviewed to take into consideration the decreasing resources from one year to another, and also take into consideration the capacities of refugees to catter for themselves. Local integration and self reliance are being pursued for the protracted situations including CAR refugees for whom repatriation is also not foreseen in the near future.
The introduction of Cash Based Intervention (CBIs) in this context appears essential to the successful implementation of this strategy. It is seen as a means to dignify the assistance provided to refugees at the same time providing room to rationalise resources available for refugee assistance. UNHCR Chad undertook in 2014 a feasibility study for the introduction of Cash, the results of which were favorable in implementing the scheme.
UNHCR Chad has launched his pathway towards the institutionalization of CBI in its operations to deliver protection to PoC through multisectoral assistance projects.
To strengthen the management of CBI at field level, it is expected to recruit an experienced CBI associate to coordinate Cash based projects implementation. N¿Djamena is an expensive city. Finding good accommodations remains a challenge. However there are a number of supermarkets where local and foreign goods are available and expatriates frequent a number of restaurants offering Lebanese, Chinese, French and other foods. N¿Djamena is a security level 2 duty station. While security in N¿Djamena is, at present, stable, due to criminality staff are discouraged from walking in the streets, taking taxis, staying out late at night and visiting public places alone. Physical integrity of UNHCR staff. UNHCR staff are always reminded the need to strictly respect all norms of security. Working knowledge in French, especially written, is required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in French.
The other following additional factors are essential for the job of the CBI Officer:
- Very good understanding of Cash Based Interventions modalities and delivery mechanisms;
- Very good knowledge of training and capacity building in CBI related issues;
- Very good experience in CBI programmatic assessments (markets, needs, protection, security etc.) and others related issues such as targeting/profiling.
- Knowledge and understanding of key developments issues within the humanitarian area.
- Work experience in a refugee or displacement context;
- Very good knowledge and experience of multisector assistance context including: wash, health and nutrition, protection, Shelter, education, food security and livelihoods.
- Training in Cash Based Intervention programming
- Prior working experience in Cash Based Intervention
- Prior work experience with UNHCR or other UN agencies

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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