Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist (CVA) - East

Organizational Setting

The large-scale escalation in hostilities in Ukraine is exacerbating the already dire food security situation of the most vulnerable rural households and small farmers. In response to the evolving situation, FAO Ukraine is scaling up its emergency humanitarian and resilience programming in conflict affected areas of Ukraine.

In order the address to rapidly deteriorating situation, FAO has established a Rapid Response Plan RRP) that is in line with the UN Flash Appeal and intended to provide life and livelihood saving interventions for the most vulnerable smallholder farming households impacted by the conflict. In support of the RRP, FAO is calling for $50 million to urgently assist up to 240, 000 most vulnerable rural men and women (over 100,000 households) including IDPs affected by the crisis. The response plan sets out key emergency agricultural interventions and immediate cash transfers to help sustain lives and agricultural livelihoods in a situation of escalating nationwide crises.

The FAO response will employ a ‘Cash ’ intervention modality that combines unconditional, multi-purpose cash (MPC) transfers with agricultural input support packages, ensuring crisis-affected households are able to cover their immediate basic needs while producing their own food and sustaining their productive assets. In this context, FAO is planning to recruit a dedicated Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist in its Field Office to support with the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of the cash based response in the east of Ukraine.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Designated Responsible Officer, the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office - Dnipro, in close coordination and the technical supervision of the Cash and Voucher Programming Coordinator in the HQ-based Office of Emergency and Resilience (OER), The Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist (CVA Specialist) is further expected to work in close collaboration with the International Consultant – CVA; relevant FAO Ukraine and project staff; and local stakeholders as deemed appropriate and functional to the delivery of responsibilities and outputs.

Technical Focus

The CVA Specialist will be part of the FAO Ukraine Cash Support Team and will be responsible for providing technical, strategic and day-to-day implementation support through the formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring of FAO cash transfer and voucher activities in the east of Ukraine.

Tasks and responsibilities

Within the overall scope of work, the CVA Specialist is responsible for the following tasks:

• Coordinate the formulation, planning, timely implementation and monitoring and evaluation of Cash and Voucher Assistance activities, ensuring high operational standards and compliance with FAO corporate rules and regulations.

• Provide contributions to ongoing processes required for the implementation of CVA modalities, including, but not limited to:

o market assessments and feasibility analyses

o identification and contracting of financial service providers (FSP)

o identification and engagement of service providers/implementing partners

o development of partnerships, beneficiary selection and registration

o development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

o set up and management of complaints and feedback mechanisms/grievance Redress Mechanism

o information, awareness raising and other direct communications with beneficiaries throughout implementation

• Manage the day-to-day relationship with potential service providers/partners FAO engages with for the targeting, distribution and monitoring of CVA interventions.

• Serve as a liaison and facilitate discussions with local stakeholders including private sector organizations; humanitarian NGOs and local government institutions as necessary to inform the above processes and to ensure appropriate information exchange.

• Participate in information, awareness raising and other direct communication campaigns with beneficiaries, implying field visits should the security situation allow or alternative means as functional to the process.

• Support the establishment of relevant tools for the post distribution tracking, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of CVA delivery and ensure their regular roll out by FAO and Partners.

• Regularly participate and represent FAO in relevant meetings and sub-teams of the Cash Working Group in the Eastern Hub and other fora and discussions on cash transfers, vouchers, social protection and related topics, to orient and inform FAO’s own programming (in terms of potential partners, preferred approaches, delivery mechanisms, transfer value, etc.)

• Contribute to the formulation of the CVA component of pipeline projects based on ongoing experience.

• In the course of the work, support with the identification and documentation of CVA-related good practices that have a potential to enhance the quality of FAO’s future interventions and support their dissemination throughout the organization

• Perform other related duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree up to masters’ levels in management, accounting, economics or related field.

• Demonstrated experience in field level implementation of humanitarian assistance programmes with focus on cash and voucher assistance.

• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Ukrainian, as all the duties will have to be performed in English.

• National of Ukraine.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Rigor and demonstrated attention to detail.

• Quality of both oral and written communication skills

• Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.