Programme & Monitoring Officer UNOCHA NOB

Humanitarian financing is a key area of focus for OCHA Venezuela. The Humanitarian Financing Unit oversees the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund and the CERF both important humanitarian financing mechanisms. The later managed by NY by the CERF Secretariat and the first one at country level in Venezuela. 

As a humanitarian financing mechanism, the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF) mobilizes and channels resources to humanitarian partners to respond to the humanitarian needs in Venezuela. Given the importance of broadening partnerships in order to reach people in need in the most underserved areas; the VHF aims to promote the response of local actors through the funding of NGOs. The Fund operates within the parameters of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), with the objective of expanding the delivery of humanitarian assistance by focusing on critical priorities and needs.

In 2022, the VHF remained a key instrument in support of the humanitarian response. The VHF was able to mobilize funding to support the best-placed partners in addressing critical humanitarian needs, saving lives, and building resilience among the most affected communities in Venezuela. During the year, the VHF helped over 98,000 people, 81 per cent of whom were women and children, with humanitarian and protection assistance.

The VHF allocations focus on critical and emerging needs, supporting local partners, strengthening coordination forums, and facilitating access to difficult/remote areas. The Fund also strengthens effectiveness and efficiency, promotes the localization agenda, and supports the strengthening of national NGOs within the Humanitarian Response Plan.

Position Purpose

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit / Fund Manager, the Programme and Monitoring Officer is responsible for the implementation of the programmatic and monitoring functions of the Humanitarian Financing Unit, including both funding mechanisms led by OCHA -Venezuela Humanitarian Fund and CERF. The Programme and Monitoring Officer leads the formulation, management, and evaluation of programme and monitoring activities within his/her portfolio; and provides advice services.

The Programme and Monitoring Officer supervises and coordinates the activities of programme staff. The Programme and Monitoring Officer works in close collaboration with other units and field offices within OCHA, programme staff in other UN Agencies, OCHA and CBPF section staff in HQ, cluster coordinators, technical advisors/experts, partners and donors to ensure successful processes within the HFU and VHF; and CERF when necessary.

1. Substantively contribute to the Humanitarian Financing Unit: Fund Management and Coordination:
   • Support and implement standardized policy in line with the CBPF Global Guidelines and HQ guidance.
   • Liaise with NGOs, UN partners as well as clusters and OCHA field offices to follow-up on project progress and overall Fund progress.
   • Contribute to ensure proper communication and support during the allocation process of VHF and CERF to all stakeholders.
   • Liaise with and provide necessary support to recipient organizations of the Fund throughout the life-cycle of the projects, promoting coherence between humanitarian needs and response.
   • Contribute to organize field missions, conferences, meetings, and events related to the VHF under the guidance of the Fund Manager.
   • Under the guidance of the Fund Manager and in collaboration with other OCHA units and field offices, as well as with support from relevant OCHA HQ sections, contribute to document and disseminate results, best practices and results of the Fund across internal and broader audiences through information and communication products/pieces (i.e. bulletins, feature stories, photographs/videos, websites, etc.).
   • Contribute when necessary on the CERF allocation processes and Coordination mechanisms and allocation reporting to HQ.
2. Support the fund allocation process from the design of the allocation strategy and throughout the project cycle:
   • Contribute to the process of Internal Capacity Assessments for new partners following the Operational Manual guidelines.  
   • Ensure necessary coordination during fund allocation processes with relevant counterparts in line with the Terms of Reference and/or allocation guidelines (i.e. Review and/or Advisory Boards, cluster leads, humanitarian organizations, and OCHA).
   • Contribute to the drafting of the Fund's allocation strategies for VHF and CERF allocations following guidance from the Humanitarian Coordinator/HoO and the Fund Manager, in consultation with relevant counterparts and coordination fora.
   • Contribute to the review process of project proposals by the HFU and review committees and follow up with partners on programmatic aspects.
   • Communicate concerns about proposals, project documents and/or implementing partners to the Fund Manager.
   • Oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners within the approved projects. 
   • Organize training and workshops related to VHF or CERF processes, programmatic and cross-cutting issues, reporting and monitoring activities, proposal development, and others programmatic topics.
   • Contribute to VHF and CERF reporting and follow up processes.
   • Keep the Fund Manager informed of trends and/or individual cases that contribute to evidence-based decisions or actions.
3. Lead the monitoring of VHF-funded projects and ensure compliance with monitoring instances:
   • Ensure compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements in place for the Fund.
   • Develop the monitoring plan for VHF-funded projects including field site visits and reporting instances according to the Operational Modalities and the CBPF Global Guidelines. 
   • Organize and conduct regular field visits to VHF-funded projects to monitor their implementation, ensuring the alignment with the project proposal and the Grant Agreement. 
   • Ensure that field monitoring reports and recommendations to implementing partners are reflected in the ONE Grant Management System (ONEGMS) on a timely manner and in compliance with CBPF Guidelines.
   • Ensure timely reporting of project implementation and communicate concerns to the Pool Fund Manager.
   • Ensure that results and findings from monitoring visits are shared with the Fund Manager and  implementing partners in a timely manner, and recommendations are followed-up.
   • Ensure that implementing partners submit narrative reports within the established timeline for all VHF-funded projects.
   • Monitor the delivery and review of narrative reports from implementing partners to ensure compliance with CBPF Global Guidelines and to provide feedback.
   • Ensure all project documents are on ONEGMS and the sharepoint partner files.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit / Fund Manager.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervises programme staff.