Cash Assistants - North Shewa
Support the effective implementation of cash assistance activities.
Overview
Support the effective implementation of cash assistance activities.
You have:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
- Minimum 2–4 years of relevant experience in cash programming, finance, accounting, humanitarian assistance, or NGO operations.
- Strong communication skills in English and Amharic; Somali is mandatory.
- Experience in cash transfer programming (CTP) or WFP-funded projects is highly desirable.
- Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and confidentiality.
- Computer literacy (MS Office, digital data collection tools, registration platforms).
TITLE: Cash Assistant - WFP cash assistance
DEPARTMENT/ TEAM /PROGRAM:
AREA OFFICE/ LOCATION: North Shewa
GRADE: 4B
CONTRACT LENGTH: 4 months (TBD)
Reports to: Field coordinator
Matrix Manager: H, N & WaSH PM
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people, vulnerable households, community and members
Risk and Compliance:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption policy and code of conduct. The key responsibilities include understanding and complying with the SCI policies and procedures, not committing any act of fraud, bribery, or corruption, understanding risks in their area/role, and implementing mitigation measures, report any suspected fraud, bribery, or corruption immediately, declare conflicts of interest in accordance with internal procedures and complete mandatory training related to ethics and anti-fraud measures
Role purpose
The Cash Assistant is responsible for supporting the effective implementation of WFP-funded cash assistance activities, including beneficiary registration, verification, cash disbursement coordination, reconciliation, and on-site documentation.
The role ensures that cash distribution processes are conducted efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with donor regulations, safeguarding standards, and organizational accountability frameworks. The Cash Assistant works closely with the Field Coordinator, Cash Officers, Finance, CFRO, Security Personnel, Financial Service Providers (FSPs), and WFP focal persons to ensure smooth and compliant cash operations at field level.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Scope of Role & Key Responsibilities
Beneficiary Registration & Verification • Support digital biographic and biometric registration of beneficiaries. • Verify beneficiary documentation against approved lists. • Ensure accurate data entry and proper filing of registration records. • Assist in QR code issuance and beneficiary identification processes. • Immediately flag discrepancies, duplication, or suspected fraud.
Cash Distribution Support
• Assist in organizing and implementing cash distribution activities in coordination with FSPs. • Cross-check beneficiary lists before disbursement. • Support reconciliation of distributed cash against approved beneficiary lists. • Ensure proper documentation of payment records and beneficiary acknowledgements. • Support post-distribution monitoring activities when required.
Financial Documentation & Reconciliation
• Maintain accurate cash distribution records and supporting documentation. • Support daily reconciliation of distribution reports. • Ensure documentation complies with donor and SCI audit requirements. • Assist in preparing activity reports and distribution summaries.
Accountability & Community Engagement
• Support complaint and feedback response mechanisms (CFM/CFRO). • Ensure beneficiaries are informed about entitlement amounts and distribution processes. • Promote transparency and fairness during cash distribution. • Maintain confidentiality of beneficiary data at all times.
Safeguarding & Protection
• Ensure all cash activities uphold dignity, inclusion, and non-discrimination principles. • Prioritize vulnerable groups including elderly persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and child-headed households. • Immediately report safeguarding concerns in line with SCI safeguarding policies. • Maintain zero tolerance for harassment, abuse, or exploitation.
Coordination & Reporting • Work closely with Field Coordinator, Finance, Security, CFRO, and WFP representatives. • Provide daily operational updates and incident reports. • Escalate security, compliance, or operational risks promptly. • Support documentation of major incidents and lessons learned.
Risk & Compliance • Strictly adhere to SCI and donor compliance standards. • Prevent and report fraud, duplication, or misuse of funds. • Ensure transparency in beneficiary targeting and cash disbursement. • Support mitigation of financial and operational risks at field level.
Context: Emergency cash assistance for IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable communities
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliverin the best way theysee fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
- sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- widely shares theirpersonal vision for Save the Children, engagesand motivates others
- Future orientated, thinksstrategically and on a globalscale.
Collaboration:
- builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team,colleagues, Members andexternal partners and supporters
- values diversity, sees it as a sourceof competitive strength
- Approachable, goodlistener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to takedisciplined risks.
Integrity:
honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levelsof integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Minimum 2–4 years of relevant experience in cash programming, finance, accounting, humanitarian assistance, or NGO operations. • Experience in cash transfer programming (CTP) or WFP-funded projects is highly desirable. • Strong documentation, reconciliation, and reporting skills. • Experience working with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) preferred. • Strong organizational and multitasking ability under pressure. • High level of integrity and attention to detail. • Strong communication skills in English and Amharic; Somali is mandatory (additional local languages are an asset). • Ability to work effectively in multicultural and field-based environments. • Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and confidentiality. • Computer literacy (MS Office, digital data collection tools, registration platforms).
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder maybe required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience. The program manager is expected to cover emerging assignments in the humanitarian program operations
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the dutiesin accordance withthe SCI EqualOpportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Line Manager:
Employee:
Signature
Date
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe your experience with cash programming in humanitarian contexts? | This helps assess your relevant experience in a specific area of humanitarian work. | Discuss your previous work roles, the context of your projects, and outcomes. |
| How do you ensure accuracy in financial documentation and reporting? | This evaluates your attention to detail and understanding of financial processes. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a situation where you had to handle a safeguarding concern. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you manage communication with diverse groups of beneficiaries? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What steps do you take to stay compliant with organizational policies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you provide an example of a time when you identified a problem and proposed a solution? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your experience with working alongside financial service providers? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |