International Consultant for Humanitarian Social Cash Transfers and shock-responsive social, 9 Months, Homebased

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Support

To achieve better results for children, in a more efficient and effective way, UNICEF has recently initiated the mainstreaming and scale up of the humanitarian social cash transfer (HCT) modality across the organization. This has become a priority area of work under UNICEF’s strategic plan, as well as UNICEF’s agenda to increase the resilience of households, communities and systems under the Core Commitments for children (CCC) in humanitarian settings.

New Global UNICEF Procedure on Cash to Beneficiaries were issued at the end of 2021 setting up programmatic and operations processes and clarifying what financial accounting and assurance activities are required for cash transfer programs. This global procedure applies to all offices and transfers of cash assistance directly to beneficiaries through any contracting method, delivery mechanism, and regardless of parties involved.

UNICEF Libya CO has significant potential to adopt Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCT) as a tool for effective and more acceptable humanitarian assistance through a variety of entry points. The humanitarian community has already created a solid enabling environment where regular participatory monitoring proved markets capable of providing the needed goods and services while the private sectors already developed financial services to deliver digital cash assistance.

How can you make a difference?

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1.****Social Cash Transfers programme development and management

• Support UNICEF Libya Country Office in developing a social cash transfer system in line with the CCC’s and the social policy strategy, while identifying linkages with national social protection system in Libya and working closely with PME and Programme Sections (with a focus on Education, Child Protection, C4D) and Emergency team.
• Develop a LCO Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual for the management and the implementation of social cash transfer programmes by the Libya Country Office. The LCO SOP will need to build on the best UNICEF global practices as well as on the tools and materials developed by the Libya Cash and Market Working Group (CMWG). The SOP will align with the global UNICEF procedure on cash assistance transfers to beneficiaries programmes. The SOP will be guided by the programmatic and operations components which are already underlined in the global procedure. The SOP will include all relevant links to UNICEF global policies and procedures.
• Develop, review and maintain work plans with time frames and deadlines for key activities; based on changing and emerging needs; ensure relevant standard operating procedures are used.
• Under the guidance of social policy manager and in concert with Operations section, liaise with Financial Service Providers (FSP) to support in scaling up UNICEF social cash transfer in Libya
• Conduct regular operational analysis of the programme, identify areas of poor performance, bottlenecks, and identify solutions such as design improvements, additional trainings and technical support.
• Develop and implement capacity building activities on social cash transfer and on the SOPs for LCO staff from Programme, sub-offices and Operations.
• Ensures relevant analysis of grievance and redressal mechanisms (GRMs) are in place and complaints and feedback received through different communication channels and ensure implementing partners relevant follow up.
• Support LCO and relevant section fundraising efforts by developing social cash transfers component in relevant donor proposals.
• Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

2.Monitoring and Evaluations

• Develop field monitoring framework and tool kit and provide orientation of field staff to implement monitoring plan accordingly.
• Work closely with the programme colleagues to implement a sound post distribution monitoring activity, in line with the monitoring and evaluation framework for those programmes integrating a cash transfer component.
• Provide guidance to the Programme colleagues on the integrated use of a diversified set of data collection tools and methodologies including leveraging existing implementing partner systems, to capture programme effects at output and primary outcome level.
• Produce relevant knowledge management products on the cash transfer activities through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well generating and documenting lessons learned, and human interest stories.
• Provide a detailed hand over, with linkages to existing deliverable and with identified responsible persons for the continuation of the Consultant work.

3.Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration for cash transfer and social protection programme

• Identify potential partnerships and collaboration with internal and external partners, including those of the UN and national counterparts, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation.
• Liaise with other UN agencies focal points through the Cash Market Working Group (CMWG) to ensure programmatic and operational collaboration including for HCT needs assessment, coordinated targeting, assistance delivery, referral pathways, grievances mechanism and joint monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial management requirements and accountability.
• Ensure UNICEF active representation in the Libya CMWG and other relevant humanitarian forums through internal coordination with relevant sections and staff.

Deliverables

1. A Libya Country Office workplan for the development of a cash management information system developed in a consultative and collaborative manner and endorsed by the Country Management Team
2. The SOP and monitoring framework, including tools for the field visits to be used by UNICEF staff and/or partners.
3. The capacity building materials are developed, available and tested with LCO staff.
4. The monthly Libya CMWG meetings reflect UNICEF perspectives and engagement on social cash transfer programme and synergies to be created with the national social protection system.
5. UNICEF Libya CO holds and utilise operational agreement, either with a fellow UN agency or with a Financial Service Provider, to deliver direct cash assistance.
6. At least 3 capacity building sessions have been implemented for LCO staff and national partners
7. At least two UNICEF programme section (education, protection, emergency, and WASH) among those included in the LCO SP/HCT internal strategy implement cash programming for children started delivery of cash assistance.
8. A monitoring framework is available and used to monitor progress and baseline data collected for the above-mentioned programme.
9. Operationalise the country offices HCT programmes.

Payments

Deliverables

Payment

1. A Libya Country Office workplan for the development of a cash management information system developed in a consultative and collaborative manner and endorsed by the Country Management Team

2.1 The initial draft SOP and monitoring framework, including tools for the field visits to be used by UNICEF staff and/or partners.

3. The capacity building materials are developed, available and tested with LCO staff.

4.1 The monthly Libya CMWG meetings reflect UNICEF perspectives and engagement on social cash transfer programme and synergies to be created with the national social protection system.

First Payment 30% to be paid after 3 months upon reception of a quarterly report and satisfactory deliverable of: 1, 2.1, 3 and 4.1

4.2 The monthly Libya CMWG meetings reflect UNICEF perspectives and engagement on social cash transfer programme and synergies to be created with the national social protection system.

5. UNICEF Libya CO holds and utilise operational agreement, either with a fellow UN agency or with a Financial Service Provider, to deliver direct cash assistance.

6.1 At least two capacity building sessions have been implemented for LCO staff and national partners

Second Payment 30% to be paid after 6 months upon reception of a quarterly progress report and satisfactory deliverable of 4.2,5 and 6.1

2.2 The final draft SOP, including tools for the field visits to be used by UNICEF staff and/or partners.

4.3 The monthly Libya CMWG meetings reflect UNICEF perspectives and engagement on social cash transfer programme and synergies to be created with the national social protection system.

6.2 One capacity building session has been implemented for LCO staff and national partners

7. At least two UNICEF programme section (education, protection, emergency, and WASH) among those included in the LCO SP/HCT internal strategy implement cash programming for children started delivery of cash assistance.

8. A monitoring framework is available and used to monitor progress and baseline data collected for the above-mentioned programme.

9. Operationalise the country offices HCT programmes

Final Payment 40%to be paid after 9 months upon reception of a quarterly progress report and satisfactory deliverable of 2.2,4.3,6.2,7,8 and 9

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in international development, social sciences, Public Financing, public policy, public health, or relevant field
• Five years of relevant professional work experience – designing, implementing, and managing cash transfer programmes.
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Experience in emergency programme implementation.
• Demonstrated knowledge in use of cash in emergencies.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes in emergency contexts preferred.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral coordination and facilitation.
• Knowledge of social protection policy debates and evidence is an asset.
• Key expertise in data and information management is desirable
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.