International Consultant: Cash Based Transfers and Social Protection, WFP Pacific (Fiji)

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Monday 16 Nov 2020 at 17:59 UTC

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Organization Name: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Duty Station: WFP Fiji Country Office, Suva.

Position Title: Cash Based Transfers and Social Protection Consultant

Type of Contract: Regular International Consultancy (Level-II)

Duration of Assignment: 6 months (with possible extension), to commence as soon as possible

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 17 (Partnerships).

BACKGROUND

In 2016, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston—the largest cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere—hit Fiji, causing an estimated USD 1.4 billion in damages (approximately 31 percent of GDP). In response to TC Winston, the Government of Fiji requested WFP humanitarian assistance, with WFP providing emergency cash-based transfers (CBT) piggybacking on the national social protection scheme. Subsequently opened an office in Suva, Fiji focusing on preparedness in the Pacific. WFP Pacific has led the logistics and emergency telecommunications clusters and co-leads the regional Pacific Food Security Cluster with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pacific regional Cash Working Group with Oxfam.

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Harold hit Fiji on 8 April 2020 as a category 4 cyclone significantly impacting the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people on the Island. On 12 April the Government of Fiji declared a State of Natural Disaster for areas severely affected by TC Harold. With the generous funding from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), WFP in partnership with the Government of Fiji is assisting disaster-affected populations in 28 priority areas affected by TC Harold through the joint implementation of a targeted cash-based transfer (CBT) programme targeting beneficiaries of existing national social protection schemes.

WFP Fiji CO is seeking an international consultant with an extensive cash-based transfer (CBT) and social protection (SP) programming background to support the implementation of this and document lessons learned and processes to inform future technical assistance and cash programming, as well as ensure the continuity of WFP investment in emergency preparedness and response work in the Pacific.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

A. CBT-SP Emergency Preparedness and Response

  • Co-lead and coordinate the Pacific Regional Cash Working Group) with Oxfam and provide technical support to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation for the Fiji Cash Working Group;
  • Provide technical support and overall leadership for cash feasibility assessments in the Pacific, including from the design of assessments to analysis of the data and write-up of the report;
  • Develop and support the establishment of the Minimum Expenditure Basket for CBT operations in selected/priority countries in the Pacific;
  • Contribute to Country Office and national CBT emergency preparedness and contingency planning to respond to humanitarian crises and needs;
  • In coordination with WFP Regional Bureau Bangkok CBT-SP unit, revise and develop a 3-years Pacific CBT-SP strategy in line with Interim Multi-Country Strategic Plan;
  • Enhance WFP’s leadership status in fora relating to CBT and wider programme policy focus areas such as food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials;
  • Liaise with the department of Department of Social Welfare Fiji to provide support in improving the shock-responsive aspects of the national social protection system and program quality considerations including targeting, monitoring and evaluation and complaints and feedback mechanisms;
  • Work with the Director Pacific Office / Program Coordinator in developing a longer-term funding proposal for the Government of Fiji (and other Pacific Island Countries) on the use of social protection platforms to deliver CBT in response to Covid-19 and other shocks;

B. CBT-SP Operational Support

  • Lead and provide technical guidance on cash-based transfer programme design, delivery and assurance at the CO, in line with the new corporate Business Process Model (ad-interim version Apr 2020) and other corporate guidelines;
  • Support documenting of lessons learned and processes (eg SOPs) from the Central Emergency Respond Fund TC Harold response;
  • Prepare the necessary budgets/ budget amendments for the implementation of the proposed CBT projects and share with management accordingly;
  • Develop and pilot innovative approaches and design and manage new programmes using cash-based transfers in consultation with the Regional Bureau Bangkok and HQ;
  • Ensure the CBT interventions integrate gender, protection and disability considerations in line with WFP policy commitments and guidance;
  • Support the information and knowledge management of CBT and SP activities and initiatives in the CO and the Pacific;

C: Capacity strengthening

  • Lead on CBT and SP technical support/capacity strengthening for the National Disaster Management Office, Department of Social Welfare and other humanitarian actors in the region in close collaboration with the Regional Bureau Bangkok team;
  • Develop and lead on Cash Based Transfer-Social Protection training for the Pacific sub-region (as needed) in collaboration with Regional Bureau Bangkok Cash Based Transfer-Social Protection team;
  • Work closely with National CBT-SP programme officer to facilitate nationalisation of the role.

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D: External Cash-Based Transfer Working Group Coordination and Visibility

  • Maintain the WFP CBT leadership role in the region serving as a Co-lead of the Pacific Regional Cash Working Group in close collaboration with Oxfam and provide technical support to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (MoWCPA) for the Fiji CWG;
  • Liaise with the Regional Asia-Pacific Cash Based Transfer Working Group as well as Cash Learning Partnership and ensure regular coordination meetings are taking place;

E: Partnerships

  • In consultation with the Country Director, maintain and foster strategic partnerships with the World Bank and other regional and sub-regional actors;
  • Explore and start initial consultations with the regional bodies such as PIFS, SPC and academic institutions for linkages and collaboration on cash transfers programming, shock-responsive social protection, food security, and other themes;
  • Identify further partnership opportunities with the private sector such as FSPs (Mobile Network operators, remittance agencies, emerging digital payment solutions, etc. in the Pacific sub-region);
  • Collaborate with regional and national protection, gender and disability actors including the Gender and Protection Cluster to mainstream these considerations, including Accountability to Affected Populations, in preparedness and response measures.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education and Experience:

  • Advanced University degree in Social Science field (International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, Statistics, or other fields relevant to international development assistance);
  • At least five (5) years of experience and progressive responsibility in working in technical assistance, policy analysis and guidance, and/or operational guidance in emergency/post-emergency contexts;
  • Direct experience in implementing CBT activities, project management, as well as monitoring and evaluation;
  • Knowledge of WFP procedures in setting up standard operating procedures with financial service providers would be desirable;
  • Experience in working with governments on cash-based transfer modalities of assistance and/or in government social safety net programmes is an added advantage;

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

  • Technical Skills and experience in designing and implementing humanitarian and recovery CBT programmes;
  • Excellent written and oral communications and presentation/facilitation skills;
  • Excellent understanding of national and UN institutional frameworks, including financial management frameworks;
  • Knowledge of UN operational programmes, while WFP programmatic and partnership experience is preferred;
  • Strong analytical and negotiation skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff in the office, host population, the Government of Pacific, donors, other CBT actors, UN agencies and others;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural team, and establish effective working relationship with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;

Desirable:

  • Knowledge and/or experience in providing capacity strengthening support to Government

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Monday, 16 November 2020 (Midnight Bangkok, Thailand time)

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: wfp.org