Humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist

Organizational Setting

The war in Ukraine is significantly impacting food security at the national and global levels. Without urgent support to the Ukrainian agrifood sector, humanitarian needs will continue to rise and the stability of global food value chains will remain under threat. In this context, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is uniquely positioned in Ukraine to implement a multidimensional and innovative response programme to sustain and restore agrifood systems at scale. Capitalizing on its technical expertise and in-country experience, FAO’s 2023 Response Plan for Ukraine is focusing on restoring food security and self-sufficiency in front-line communities (Pillar 1); restoring critical agricultural production and value chains (Pillar 2); and enhancing coordination and technical support to the functioning of critical food system services (Pillar 3).

Reporting Lines

The Humanitarian Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist reports to the Emergency Coordinator (FAO-Ukraine), under the overall supervision of the Head of the FAO office/Designated Responsible Officer in Ukraine.

Technical Focus

Support to implementation of FAO’s cash and voucher assistance interventions at country level in Ukraine, with a focus on strategic, programmatic, technical and operational leadership on projects and programmes using Cash and Voucher Assistance modalities for delivery.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide strategic, programming, technical and operational leadership to the development, timely implementation and monitoring-evaluation of FAO-Ukraine projects and programmes involving the use of Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), ensuring high operational standards and compliance with FAO rules and regulations; • Provide technical and operational guidance on CVA at all steps of the project cycle; • Provide leadership and support to the various processes required for the timely implementation of FAO-Ukraine CVA interventions, including, but not limited to: market assessments, feasibility analyses, partnerships, capacity development and training, beneficiary selection and registration, identification and deployment of Management Information System (MIS) solutions, development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), identification, procurement and contracting of financial services, monitoring, impact evaluation, complaints and feedback mechanisms, including by regularly liaising with relevant divisions, teams and units at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) in Budapest and headquarters in Rome. • Ensure the FAO-Ukraine CVA portfolio is formulated and delivered in full compliance with the relevant FAO Manual Sections; • Contribute to capacity development and training on CVA and deliver face-to-face and virtual training to FAO staff and partners; • Provide technical support and advice on social protection to further explore the linkages between the humanitarian/resilience CVA and the national social protection system/initiatives and support shock-responsive social protection system approaches in the country; • Liaise with anticipatory action experts to explore the use of CVA as one of the anticipatory action approaches in the country; • Identify and document FAO-Ukraine CVA-related good practices that have the potential to enhance the quality of FAO’s interventions and support their dissemination and potential adoption, replication and standardization by other Decentralized Offices; • Represent FAO-Ukraine in relevant CVA-related coordination fora and meetings (e.g. Cash Working Group); • Perform any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University (Bachelor or equivalent) degree in humanitarian affairs, international relations, economics, development, agricultural studies or a related field; • At least five years (Category B) of relevant experience in different dimensions of humanitarian and development assistance related to Cash and Voucher Assistance and/or social protection, especially pertaining to food security and agriculture interventions; • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of Russian or French, Spanish, Arabic, or Chinese. For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously; • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable; • Able to work under pressure with multidisciplinary teams in an evolving and complex humanitarian context; • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.