Programme Assistant: Cash-based transfers (CBT) SC5

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

Job Title:

Grade:

Type of contract:

Duty Station: Vacancy Number

Date of Publication:

Deadline of Application:

Programme Assistant: cash-based transfers (CBT)

SC5

Service Contract SC5

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

747422

04/04/2023

18/04/2023

This vacancy announcement is for Nationals from CO (specified).

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Since adoption of the first cash and voucher policy in 2008, WFP’s global capabilities have grown tremendously. WFP has gone from transferring USD 10 million to 1 million people in 10 countries in 2009 to delivering USD 2.3 billion to 42 million people in 69 countries in 2021, and also helped 52 governments to design and implement their own cash transfer programmes.

Likewise in the Kyrgyz Republic, WFP recognizes corporate principles of cash-based transfer (CBT) programmes: People are at the centre: WFP believes that how it sends money is as important as how much it can send, so it gets the money to people when they need it the most, and in the way they find most safe and convenient, and that helps them unlock opportunities to improve their lives. People know what they need: WFP also aims to empower women and men with financial products and services that are safe, within their means, and to ensure they have the know-how to make their own spending and saving decisions. Everyone deserves a healthy diet: WFP seeks to help people to avoid trade-offs between sending their children to school or serving them a well-balanced meal, between buying medicine and buying the food they need each day. This entails understanding key household expenditures and working with government and other partners to make sure people have the resources to meet all of their food, nutrition, and other essential needs.

Supervision: The Programme Assistant for cash-based transfers reports within a cross-cutting/ enabling unit to a CBT Officer under the Head of Programme (CBT expert) and supports the Outcomes (Programme units), facilitating cash operations as programmed. Close coordination and smooth service provision is also expected with Budgeting/Finance, Supply Chain and Research Analysis and Monitoring units as well as the sub-office.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES OF PROGRAMME ASSISTANTS (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

1. Perform specialized and/or standardized processes and activities within the specific technical area of work supporting alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines.
2. Provide project management and/or general office support following established targets and WFP’s policies and procedures (with considerations to incorporate protection and gender in all areas of work on a daily basis, for inclusive, participatory and equitable programming that delivers gender equality and inclusion results).
3. Within the specific area of responsibility, compile data and support analysis and preparation of reports (e.g. CBT reconciliations) in order to support operational decision-making.
4. Perform accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work (e.g. CBT-related transactions in SAP and other relevant corporate systems used by the Country Office, ensuring all CBT data is accurate and timely registered, in liaison with the relevant internal units) following corporate standards and guidelines.
5. Work and exchange information with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities (Organize CBT-related operational arrangements: Support drafting and revising of Terms of References, technical specifications related to CBT and Programme activities;).
6. Support communication and activities with local partners, agencies, financial service providers (FSP), cooperating partners (CP) and government institutions (though participation in Cash Working Group meetings and drafting of notes for the record, facilitate an integrated approach to cash assistance and cross-functional operational alignment; and monitoring that Field Level Agreements and/or Financial Service Provider agreements are strictly followed and implemented; support negotiations and contracting with partners; maintain a day-to-day contact with partners for a smooth roll out of agreed activities).
7. Act as a point of contact for resolution of general operational queries requesting assistance where necessary.
8. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices (assist in the development and implementation of CBT emergency preparedness and contingency actions to facilitate timely and flexible implementation of CBT operations) to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
9. Perform other duties as required.

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (CBT - related tasks)

10. Assist in the development and implementation of CBT operations in line with the WFP Country Strategic Plan 2023-2027, global WFP strategy and regional/functional strategies, policies, and plans.
11. Support country context analysis, including financial and retail and IT sector and management of CBT operational networks in coordination with other units and contribute to design and implementation of monitoring and reporting related to cash assistance; follow up on recommendations and observations to ensure that rigorous quality standards are achieved.
12. Assist and support CBT Programme Officer and Outcomes in beneficiary identity management related activities and checks on day-to-day basis; Support organization and implementation of CBT-related components of information and awareness campaigns for beneficiaries and programme partners; Support the proper functioning of a Complaints & Feedback Mechanism (CFM) in liaison with relevant units; Support on follow up on beneficiary complaints and provide timely and quality information to responsible manager.
13. Support the delivery system set-up of CBT operations including the: setup of digital solutions; collection of data for the creation and review of payment lists; issuance, tracking, and distribution of payment cards, vouchers and other payment instruments; preparation and review of timely CBT distributions to the right people; collection of distribution reports from CP/FSP/retailers and check-up of their quality and timing for reconciliation; follow up in liaison with Budget and Programming unit, Finance unit and Procurement on payments of partner and vendor service fees; replenishment of funds for the subsequent distribution; project related trainings for staff, CP/FSP/retailers; and all other implementing activities as needed.
14. Assist in the drafting, revision and implementation of CBT Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
15. Support in documenting operational risks and contribute to risk mitigations during distributions.
16. Undertake other assigned tasks, as required

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Experience in implementing projects as part of project management or project support team is required.
• Experience in in reading operational context and trends.
• Experience in supporting analytical and conceptual work on CBT strategy and implementation.
• Experience in designing operational scenarios and implementing plans in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders is desired.
• Experience in end-to-end cash transfer operations is desired.
• Experience in using Excel for data analysis and data management is required.
• Experience in troubleshooting and solving operational issues.
• Experience of data entry using corporate information and ERP systems such as SAP is desired.

Education: Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional

area, with project management certificates and/or further university education an advantage.

Experience: At least five years of working experience for public or private sector organizations, international organizations, UN or NGOs

Language: Fluency (level C) in both oral and written communication in English and proficiency in the duty station’s language(s) (Russian or Kyrgyz, both considered an advantage).

Background section for VA

WFP, the second largest UN agency in the Kyrgyz Republic, will support and promote the inclusion of people with diverse and often intersecting vulnerabilities and inequalities, by supporting nationally led social and civil protection systems and programmes (strengthening the government’s ability for anticipatory action and ensuring that no one is left behind) and by modelling new approaches within complementary WFP interventions (which can be adopted or transitioned), leveraging WFP’s global expertise in promoting healthy diets and sustainable food systems, climate risk management, warehousing, food safety, smallholder market access and innovations such as private sector-oriented solutions, micro-insurance and digital public goods.

Derived from the UN Cooperation Framework and national priorities, promoting participatory community engagement and nutrition-sensitive approaches, the 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan (2023-27 EN|RU) continues WFP’s human capital development, capacity building and productive asset creation activities to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, with a focus on food systems strengthening across three core pillars: (i) Social Protection; (ii) Climate Change Adaption, Disaster Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness; and (iii) Schools as platforms for healthy diets. In addition, a contingent emergency response outcome can be activated in case of need.

All WFP Employees are expected to demonstrate the competencies and standards of behaviour aligned with our core values and defined in the WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK, namely:

Leading by example with integrity,

Driving results and delivering on commitments,

Fostering inclusive and collaborative teamwork,

Applying strategic thinking,

Building and maintaining sustainable partnerships.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

Request for Disability related Reasonable Accommodations:

It is important to WFP to create an accessible and inclusive workplace for everyone. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection and hiring process, please direct your request and inquiries to the Diversity and Inclusion team on: [email protected]*, cc’ing* [email protected]*. A member of the reasonable accommodation team will contact you to confidentially discuss your needs.*

This email is only to be used for any disability related accessibility requirements, and not for sending the application itself. Due to volume of applications, any applications or CVs sent through this email address will not be considered as a formal application and will not receive a reply from WFP.

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.