Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

In recognition of the increased use of cash transfers in IRC’s humanitarian responses, and in particular in view of the increased focus on meeting basic needs through multi-sector cash transfer programmes (CTPs), this role is to plan, implement , monitor and evaluate the delivery of cash transfers for disaster affected household.

IRC is planning to undertake multipurpose cash transfer project in somali Region in coordination with government, INGOs and local partners for conflict/drought affected households (IDPs). The role of senior cash transfer in this project is to plan, support and deliver cash transfer in Somali region for target clients. The position requires strong operational background in delivering cash transfer programmes. The Senior Cash Programme Officer will be deployed at a field level, within the line management of the Field coordinator, to support the set up and/or implementation of cash transfer program in project area. S/he will be encouraged to support on all aspects of setting up and/or handling all operational areas connected to cash delivery mechanism, including budget development and reporting, partners’ representation, security, logistics, compliance with internal policies and procedures and management of teams.

SCOPE,

The Snr Cash Transfer Programming Officer position is responsible for carrying out all aspects of program delivery with respect to multipurpose cash transfer in the project area. Multipurpose cash transfer response is designed to respond to conflict affected communities in the region. Multipurpose Cash transfer is to provide the much needed cash for food and crucial basic needs for the affected households. The senior Cash Programing Officer is the primary field-level position. The Officer spends most of his/her time in the field/affected communities, identifying priority needs and target communities those affected by the conflict(mainly IDPs), conducting IDPs verification assessment, conducting market assessment in the areas of needy community, conducting post distribution monitoring, establishing relationships with community, local implementing partners, local government and leaders, supervising field-level operations, such as the delivery of materials/inputs, registration of complaints, and payment to beneficiaries. He will technically report to ERD teams (ERD coordinator) in Addis and field coordinator at field level is the immediate supervisor of the position.

Responsibilities: The key responsibilities include

• Provide support to the implementation of operational elements of cash transfer programme activities, working closely with the field coordinator and team, and with the assistance of ERD coordinator based in Addis.
•  Leads the process of identifying beneficiary communities/targeting based on robust and participatory criteria, assist other CTP staffs, if any and implement cash transfer project at grass root level following IRC SOP for cash
• Maintain master beneficiaries list/ data base
• Be responsible for establishing and supervising cash delivery mechanisms for IRC in designated project area.
•  S/he will be working closely with financial service delivery (FSP) and Mobile Network Operators.
• Ensure that narratives and financial reporting is delivered in accordance with IRC as well as donor contractual requireme
• 
  
• nts, and within the agreed timescale and budget.

Project Implementation 

• Lead community based targeting and verification of the beneficiaries program participants
• Maintains and adapts as required a Master database for all beneficiaries of the programs in project location
• Prepare Purchase Requests for program supplies/activities and liaison with field SC and finance team to undertake field procurement as designated and authorized.
• Maintains individual databases for individual transfer programs including Issues verification and payment lists
• Maintains records of payments and follow-up for all beneficiary lists but also for individual beneficiaries
• Develop cash distribution plan, supervise and evaluate the on spot cash distribution process
• Set up and strengthen beneficiaries compliant feedback mechanisms with relevant internal partners
•  Provide cash transfer sensitization sessions for targeted households and other partners
• Manage field level staff such as cash transfer assistant

External Coordination 

• Participate in zonal cash coordination and other humanitarian coordination platform at field level
• Work with Safety and Security colleagues to develop and implement effective safety and security procedures for specific cash transfer programming activities, ensuring that these are updated and revised at regular intervals and that new programmes are built around security considerations
•  Work with and provide timely technical support to the IRC’s implementing partners; maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner staff
• Comply with IRC’s Global policies such as, Whistle blowing, Fraud, and Safety and other relevant policies
• In information exchange with the field teams, s/he guides the team with regard to data collection and analysis.
• Represents the IRC on Cash coordination meetings at different level like region, zone and woreda level
• Identify and work very closely with Financial Service Providers (FSP).

Internal Coordination 

• Maintains adequate communication and coordination within team (protection and other team members) and with other Assistance departments(WASH, NFI, nutrition), as well as the Protection team when required, when planning data collection activities,
•  Chips in to the set-up and conduct of needs assessments involving/focusing on data collection for cash transfer programs in project location
•  Updates his/her direct superior on data collection activities in relation to planned and ongoing cash activities of other humanitarian actors in Ethiopia
• Ensure and put in place the vital compliant management and response mechanisms in collaboration with MEAL staff

Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Assist in the collection of data, conduct of assessments (needs, market, risks and security) and provide input for concept note/ proposal development for cash transfer project in collaboration with the local community structures and community members
• Supervise progress against grant work plan; promptly identifying any current or potential delays
• Assist his/her supervisors to ensure all monitoring activities are fully documented, including detailed and timely data collection as required under the grant and for IRC M&E purposes.

Capacity Building and Coaching:

• Aware the communities, government partners and local stakeholders to consider cash response as one modality at appropriate situation.
• Capacitate the community facilitators, staffs under his/her supervisee, and others (if any) on cash Transfer Programming (CTP).
• Support and mentor the FSP to meet the humanitarian principles during Cash Response program/facilitating the payment to the beneficiaries.

Job Requirements

• First degree in social science; economics, agriculture economics or postgraduate degree preferred
• Minimum 3 years for 1st degree and 2 years for post graduate Degree in Agri-economics, Economics, Marketing, Rural Development, Banking, Project Management or similar with meaningful experience of the position demand.
• Proven abilities on cash based program (specific abilities or skills required)
• INGO experience is a plus

Personal qualities:

• Works well in and promotes collaboration, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to work under pressure well
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English, Amharic required and also other local languages preferred 

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

External Link

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for
• Date of application
• Summary of your qualifications and experience
• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address
• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.