Snr Programme CBI Officer

C

FamilyFamily

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2023-03-24

April 20, 2023Senior Programme CBI Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Programme CBI Officer is an active member of a bureau, field operation or division and provides strategic direction, quality control and oversight to UNHCR cash assistance. The incumbent ensures that operations implement technically sound CBI in line with technical guidance and supports the compliance with CBI policy and administrative instructions on CBI. S/he will ensure the strategic and coherent use of CBI and monitor them adequately. S/he will ensure adequate coordination of all CBIs in line with the collaborative cash delivery principles and provide technical guidance on CBIs to UNHCR staff and partners. Internally s/he will liaise with UNHHR country offices and/or Bureaux and/or HQ and relevant divisions and sectors. Externally s/he will liaise with Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, line ministries, donors, UN agencies and other key stakeholders. The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Promote cash assistance, and the strategic and coherent use of CBI's, ensuring that CBI is maximised to meet protection, and in assistance and service provision throughout the displacement cycle, including in emergencies. - Stay abreast of legal, political, security, technical and other developments which impact on the operational environment and assistance and service delivery through CBIs. - Promote and ensure linkages with social protection and financial inclusion. - Provide technical support on strategic planning and policy making on activities within the area of CBIs, including assessments, planning and budgeting, technical choices, legal and regulatory aspects, implementation modalities, coordination and monitoring. - Support to ensure that CBI is fully, effectively integrated into the country operations plans and protection and solutions strategies. - Collaborate with and support protection and sectors to increase the use of CBI in e.g. education, shelter, livelihoods, health and WASH programmes. - Establish sound monitoring process for cash assistance, needed to measure and analyse CBI performance. Analyse trends and interventions, including CBI expenditure, upstream and downstream activities. Ensure post distribution monitoring (PDM) is conducted regularly and in line with the relevant guidance. - Assess the technical soundness and generate recommendations for adjusting/adjust the CBI approach. - Ensure fluid communication and information exchange with key stakeholders internally and externally. - Lead/participate in relevant coordination and collaboration structures. - Represent UNHCR or lead on behalf of UNHCR inter-agency coordination mechanisms on CBIs, promote and maintain collaborative cash arrangements, and strong relations with partners and other key actors, such as donors. - Represent UNHCR in external technical fora. - Generate data and analysis for evidence-base, communication, and visibility. - Organise CBI-related knowledge management, learning and capacity building, including organising trainings and learning events. - Fulfil CBI-related reporting requirements, including writing external updates, technical and PI material. - Ensure the use of UNHCR CashAssist. - Perform other related duties as required. In Country Operations: - In close collaboration with the Senior Management, ensure the functioning of CBI component of Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and ensure CBI is implemented according to UNHCR¿s policies, rules and regulations. - Ensure CBI is included in the preparedness and response planning, and prepare UNHCR to be the first responder to new emergencies/ and return situations with CBI. - Lead required assessments to ensure optimal CBI design. - In collaboration with Finance and other colleagues, establish CBI Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operation and coordinate the review with RB and the final clearance with HQ. - Coordinate the Implementation CBI in accordance with the SOP, ensuring audit trail and proper accountability. - Coordinate with Supply for timely procurement of financial service providers, including leading the technical evaluations and any other procurement related tasks, as well as contracting of financial service providers. In Regional Bureaux: - Ensure the coordination of CBI across the Regional Bureau and with country operations. - Provide technical support to country operations, in all aspects of CBI delivery, in line with UNHCR¿s policy and guidance. - Assess technical soundness of the operations. - Review and provide inputs for CBI Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operations and coordinate the review and final clearance with HQ. - Review and provide inputs on issues and documents relating to procurement and contracting of financial service providers, including participation in technical evaluations as required. In Headquarters: - Generate organisation-wide guidance, policies, positioning, and tools, including policy documents, technical guidance, evaluations, lessons learnt, communication and visibility materials, reports, and synthesis. - Provide technical support for the rollout and the implementation of CBI to regional bureaux and operations. - Oversee CBI-related knowledge management, training and learning. - Coordinate the interdivisional support and actively contribute to the SOP clearance with DFAM, CBI procurement-related documents with SMS, and CBI-related contracts with Financial Service Providers with LAS, and collaborate with other Divisions and services as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Economics; Social Science; Business Administration; Social Economics; Political Science; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Programme Management; HCR Results Based Management; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Experience in working in cash based assistance programmes and proven knowledge and technical skills in set up, design, implementation and monitoring of CBIs from a multisectoral and protection perspective. Desirable Experience in interagency coordination. Functional Skills PG-UNHCR's Programmes CB-Cash-based Programming/Managing/Planning PS-Private sector fundraising and partnerships ER-Donor Relationship Development and Management MG-Resource Mobilization Techniques and Guidelines (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. 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.

The incumbent is expected to have demonstrated managerial and leadership skills, as well as political awareness, in order to effectively operate in a highly charged, politically sensitive environment in Lebanon. S/he is required to have sufficient level of technical expertise in CBI, and be conversant with the relevant UNHCR policies, initiatives and global trends in relation to CBI. S/he is expected to have good understanding of the UNHCR programming in general, who is also able to contribute to strategic planning. S/he is also required to have good coordination and communication skills, who is able to lead multi-functional team endeavours. Experience in inter-agency coordination, in particular cash working group or similar, is an asset.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

UNHCR leads the development and implementation of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan to the Syrian refugee crisis, together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNDP, and maintains sectoral leadership in the areas of protection, basic assistance, shelter, health and social stability. UNHCR Lebanon implements large scale cash-based programmes, such as multipurpose and seasonal/winter support cash assistance programmes, Protection cash assistance programmes, Cash for Rent, DAFI (education), in addition to in kind assistance and direct intervention programmes in WASH, Shelter and individual support in emergency situations. Overall, cash modality is being applied for an operational value of over USD 100 million on an annual basis. UNHCR needs to continuously demonstrate its leadership, technical expertise, on cash interventions throughout each step of the operational management cycle in the diverse and dynamic interagency and inter-organizational forums. These includes the inter-agency cooperation platform Lebanon One Unified Inter-Organizational System for E-cards, Basic Assistance Working Group of the LCRP coordination structure among others. Moreover, there is a high interest from key donors on cash programmes for refugees in Lebanon on its integrity, cost-effectiveness and efficiencies, innovations, replicability and refugee data protection.
It is imperative for UNHCR Lebanon to lead on these endeavors with the right managerial, leadership, technical expertise and political awareness, operating in a highly charged, politically sensitive environment in Lebanon.
Reporting to Assistant Rep (Prog), Senior Prog. CBI Officer manages a broad spectrum of the Basic Assistance/Cash programmes, including multi-purpose cash/winter assistance (cash) programmes and delivery mechanisms to other cash modality. He/She represents UNHCR in the inter-agency and inter-organizational platform(s) and coordination forums. Senior Prog. CBI Officer coordinates with the offices of UNHCR and its teams in the country. He/She holds a professional position responsible for provision of leadership, technical support and advice on strategic planning and policy making on activities within the area of CBIs as an integral part of UNHCR programme. The incumbent will make sure the cash-based interventions are implemented in line with UNHCR Policy on CBI and pertaining Guidance Notes and toolkits. He/She will have to keep abreast of all new trend in the global cash sector and try to apply innovative, and yet simplified, procedures for implementation. Senior Programme CBI will be managing various processes relative to assistance delivery but also those related to needs assessment, targeting and monitoring (and evaluation). He/she will lead the BA Unit team of young experts in various field, who are divided in several workstreams as per above definition. In addition, the incumbent will have to coordinate with BA Focal Points in the Field Offices, keeping them informed on the latest developments and seeking their feedback over various operational issues. Similarly, he/she will have to maintain strong relationship with various units and sector leads within UNHCR Lebanon, like Communication with Communities, Community Based Protection, ICT, Registration, Protection, to name a few. Bringing MFT from all those units and on various workstreams regularly will be of atmost importance, due to high complexity of the context and the CBI itself. Similarly, he/she will be facilitating the UNHCR internal Cash Advisory Group, composed of senior management and sector leads, where important strategic decisions related to CBI and above mentioned MFT workstreams will be made. Finally, he/she will be instrumental to the recently formed Cash Working Group, representing UNHCR in its co-chair role (together with OCHA) as per 2022 Caucus on Global Cash Coordination (Grand Bargain).

Living and Working Conditions:

Lebanon continues to host the highest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometre in the world. As of 28 February 2023, there are 820,160 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, including 808,088 Syrian refugees and 12,072 refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities. The Government of Lebanon estimates that there are 1.5 million displaced Syrians living in Lebanon. Refugees live across nearly all municipalities in Lebanon in both within urban and rural areas, as well as in informal tented settlements. Since 2021, the Vulnerability Assessment for Syrian Refugees (VASyR) indicates that 9 out of 10 Syrian refugees are living in extreme poverty, even with assistance, up from 55% in 2019.

UNHCR co-leads with UNDP and the Government of Lebanon the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), a joint, multi-year plan between the Government of Lebanon and 126 international and national partners developed to assist more than 3.2 million crisis-affected people living in Lebanon, including displaced Syrians, Palestinian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese host communities. The LCRP appeal for 2023 is $3.34 billion.

Compounding the refugee situation is the unprecedented economic and financial crises that Lebanon is facing, which have contributed to a substantial deterioration of the socio-economic situation since 2019 and affected everyone, including refugees and Lebanese people.

Deterioration of basic support services is affecting the overall living conditions across the country. The provision of reliable electricity supply is a major challenge across the country. While many residential buildings have generator-based back-up systems, due to diesel shortages and increased fuel prices, electricity cuts of 6 to 20 hours per day persist. The cost of reliable electricity supply has increased significantly and can cost up to USD 1,000 per month. Staff also face shortages of medical supplies, including medication, and limited availability of medical specialists. Due to the collapse of the banking sector, many international staff are not using local banks for their finances and relying more on international bank accounts or financial service companies to make transfers, incurring high service fees.   

Anti-government protests have been ongoing since October 2019. It is assessed that protests will continue at the same pace with roadblocks and increased violence, and this may also result in an increase of theft and carjacking. UN staff in Lebanon are considered potential targets of crime. There is also increasing risk of terror threats. Relations remain tense between Lebanon and Israel, and the countries are technically still at war with one another; however, the risk of an armed conflict remains very low.

UNHCR in Lebanon has around 600 staff across offices in in Beirut and Tyre (classified by ICSC in 2022 as ‘C’ family duty stations), as well in Tripoli, Qobayat, and Zahle (classified as category ‘B’ family duty stations). New hardship revision of duty stations in Lebanon is planned by ICSC for the end of 2022. 

The timely issuing of the entry visas and residence permits remains a challenge for UNHCR in Lebanon, which may delay the staff member's assignment process, including for their dependents. Even though UN personnel can visit Lebanon using a UNLP and will receive a 6-month visa upon arrival, it is imperative that staff arriving from abroad to take up assignment in Lebanon receive the applicable entry visa at the Lebanese Embassy/Presentation closest to the point of their departure. The residency permit process can be only initiated when for the staff and their dependents are able to secure Lebanese entry visa on their national passports.  Preapproval process of the Lebanese entry visa depends on the approval granted by the MFA and take 4-5 weeks to obtain.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Certifications

HCR Results_Based Management - UNHCR, Programme Management - Other

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

March 2023 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance