Cash & Basic Needs Manager

Job Description

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis affected places. IRC’s Economic Recovery and Development programming ensures that clients meet both their short- and long-term economic needs through sustainable and ethical programs such as, but not limited to, cash and voucher transfers, food security promotion, climate-smart agro-pastoral production and enterprise development and employment promotion.

More than 3.6 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million Ukrainians are reported to be displaced. As the vast majority of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighbouring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to an emergency response, and have identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across Ukraine and Poland to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

This position will be based in Warsaw, with occasional travel around Poland as necessary. As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this assignment may change based on the needs of the program. Housing will initially be in hotels, or other shared, IRC accommodation.

JOB SUMMARY

IRC seeks a dynamic program implementor to fill the role of Cash & Basic Needs (CBN) Manager who will lead cash and basic needs programming assistance including Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in Poland.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the ERD Coordinator the Cash & Basic Needs Manager, will be responsible for:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Quality and implementation

· Lead the Cash basic & needs implementation program and ensuring the quality and effective it.

· Responsible for specific project coordination and quality control with partners and directly in line with IRC international priorities, frameworks, and policies.

· Lead design processes such as market assessments and provide technical oversight that ensures quality, new and adapted cash and basic needs programming in accordance with standard methods, IRC policy, and context to achieve the greatest coverage and impact for clients possible.

· Collaborate with the ERD Coordinator and senior members of other technical sectors to prepare strategic work-plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, implementation plans, financial projections and tools for evaluation.

· Develop and adhere to detailed implementation plans with the ERD Coordinator to ensure program implementation is on time with target goals and budget management, using effective monitoring & evaluation systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts.

· Ensure the integration of cash and voucher assistance activities across outcomes, including protection (including activities provided by partners).

· Provide technical assistance to the key tool’s development in cash, including the Cash Relief Operating

· Procedures (CROPs), Program Controls Checklist (PCC), and Program Implementation Note (PIN); as well as other key guidance, as needed, in collaboration with other IRC staff.

· Ensure that the payment delivery options guarantee the maximum level of protection and inclusivity for clients.

· With the ERD Coordinator, co-lead engagement with various interagency coordination forum including Cash Working Groups and identification of strategic partnerships aligned with IRC approach.

· Leading the learning process from pilot phase and draft report to improve the quality of long-term designed program.

Partnerships and Representation

· Identify and develop partnerships with local and international implementing partners such as local private actors and municipalities as appropriate for program design, service to clients, and capacity sharing based on IRC’s PEERS standards of equal and effective partnership.

· Manage partner relations to ensure compliance with IRC standards, meet project milestones, and troubleshoot issues as needed.

· Provide support to implementing partners as needed and determined by them and the ERD Coordinator, including training, data management support and other operational support for their programs.

· Represent the IRC at events as identified by the ERD Coordinator or Cash & Basic Needs Manager

· Strengthen relationships with national bodies including integration efforts with Polish social protection schemes.

Management

· Manage team members, volunteers, and translators, including working with HR on recruitment, performance management, and more.

· Deliver capacity-building sessions to partners/ new team members and community mobilizers as needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

· Ensure proper data collection and information management systems are used for projects in-line with MEAL support.

· Establish strong databases for client data and other programmatic information.

· Support written program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.

· Support the ERD Coordinator and Client Responsiveness Officers in addressing feedback from clients and partners

· Highlight the main risks associated with MEAL while implementing the programs and document them along with the followed/recommended mitigation measures to enhance the quality of the program.

Business Development

· Support co-design sessions that involve potential partners and are responsive to client needs

· Support the development of concept notes and proposals related to CVA programming expansion and continuation from emergency to long-term response, including budgets, logical frameworks, relevant indicators, and written narratives.

Reporting

· Write ERD program narrative reports for review by ERD Coordinator and Grants team.

· Support the provision of up-to-date information on success stories to Comms and Advocacy team

Professional Standards

· Complete other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

- Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Qualifications

Education: minimum university degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or Humanitarian Response preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- At least 3 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, livelihoods, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience in both direct implementation and working with partners. - Knowledge and experience in implementing humanitarian or development projects, especially in conflict contexts. - Fluency in English and Polish languages required, Ukrainian strongly preferred. - Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace. - Willingness to travel to different cities within Poland - Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook - Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion

Female candidates are highly encouraged

Must have right to work in Poland.

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, and Anti-Retaliation.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.