Programme Officer - Cash-Based Transfers (CBT) SC8

WFP KYRGYZSTAN COUNTRY OFFICE

Opened on 18 May 2021 - Closing on 1 June 2021

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

Location: Bishkek

Contract length: 12 months with possible extension, subject to performance and funding availability.

Organisational Context:

The Kyrgyz Republic is a small, landlocked, mountainous country bordered by China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with a population of just over 6.2 million people, mainly living in rural areas. After it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the economy grew, poverty fell, child mortality declined and life expectancy increased. However, since 2008 there have been a series of economic and political setbacks, and now the pandemic increased the number of poor people in the country, because of reduced economic activities, decreased remittances, price spikes and a growing fiscal gap.

WFP’s productive and shock-responsive safety net interventions with food for assets (FFA), food for training (FFT) as well as with cash-based transfers (CBT), which WFP implements in collaboration with the Government, aim to address the heightened needs. The scale-up of cash-based transfer modality will help to achieve food and nutrition outcomes for vulnerable people living in a context with functioning local markets, maturing financial and technological sectors, and with Government interest in strengthening social safety nets, including consumer knowledge and purchasing power. Starting from 2019, WFP and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic are actively promoting an integrated approach to link social assistance and active labour market policies, i.e. “social contract” or “productive inclusion measures” to be part of national social protection system.

Job purpose:

Based on WFP’s proven operational excellence in CBT programming, WFP is worldwide well-placed to support governments in the design, delivery and assurance aspects of their own cash-based safety nets. CBT being money given to vulnerable people who can use it to buy what they most need in their local markets, this can include assistance distributed as physical bank notes, electronic money, through debit cards or value vouchers.

The Programme Officer CBT is responsible for ensuring programme excellence in this transfer modality in the Kyrgyz Republic, supporting all WFP staff involved in CBT implementation and advisory activities, to strengthen controls throughout the programme lifecycle. Reporting to an Outcome Manager under the overall supervision of the Deputy Country Director, the cross-functional nature of CBT requires this Programme Officer to actively coordinate design, delivery and assurance of CBT activities across all components of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive):

Under the supervision of the Outcome Manager/Programme Policy Officer, and in support of all components of the Country Programme, in close coordination with Vulnerability Assessment/ Monitoring & Evaluation, Supply Chain, Finance, and Budget units, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following:

• DESIGN

Provide technical guidance and mobilize technical expertise, on cash-based transfer/social protection program design. This includes a wide range of programme and policy issues such as assessment and analysis, intervention design and purpose, both for WFP and Government programmes, as and when required.

21. Plan and participate in market, risk and other multi-sectoral assessments and feasibility studies to determine the needs/targeting approach/modalities and to analyse risks with respect to cash-based transfer interventions;
22. Participate in and contribute to programme evaluations and assessments that will inform the use of CBT in the next CSP as well as donor appeals and fundraising efforts to attract donor support and partnerships for CBT interventions.
23. Support the development of programme guidelines and tools for cash-based transfers and social protection incorporating field experience and lessons learned.

• DELIVERY

Provide technical guidance and mobilize technical expertise, on cash-based transfer/social protection program delivery. This includes a wide range of programme and policy issues such as cash disbursement mechanisms, monitoring, as well as amendments to programme implementation modalities, both for WFP and Government programmes, as and when required.

21. Coordinate WFP’s implementation of CBT emergency response/recovery programme as well as partnership engagement and fundraising in line with corporate Business Process Models and other relevant guidance.
22. Work across relevant units to develop, update and ensure CBT Standard Operating procedures (SOP) are aligned with corporate manuals and guidelines; and develop implementation strategy and work plan for CBT operations.
23. Assist in monitoring and troubleshooting the implementation of CBT in the country.

• ASSURANCE

Provide technical guidance and mobilize technical expertise, on cash-based transfer/social protection assurance. This includes a wide range of risk and control considerations, both for WFP and Government programmes, as and when required.

21. Ensure accountability and assurance to donors to WFP’s CBT operations – including reporting, proposal development and updates/briefs.
22. Document best practices and lessons learned for the CO and manage operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to CBT and social protection programmes for learning and improving operations.
23. Participate in formulating technical requirements and specifications for analytics and insight platforms.

• Perform other related duties as required.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• At least 5 years of relevant post graduate national and/or international work experience in programme management in the banking, retail or development sector, providing strategic and operational knowledge and experience on Cash Based Transfers, Social Protection/Government advisory, or Digital Assistance.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts and staff in the office, partners, donors, other cash and vouchers actors, UN agencies, and others.

• Capacity to (with the support of ICT specialists) assess/advice on data management and IT systems.

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural team and establish an effective collaboration across functions.

• Knowledge of WFP procedures with regard to data and beneficiary information and transfer management throughout the CBT cycle is considered an asset.

MININMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Statistics, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, International Development, Development Studies, or other fields relevant to international development assistance based on cash-based transfers.

Skills and capabilities:

• Technical skills and experience in designing and implementing cash-based transfers.

• Strong analytical and excellent written and oral communication / negotiation / presentation skills.

• Literacy in Office365 applications, incl. collaborative working through MS Teams.

• Knowledge of banking/financial instruments and linkages to social protection and financial inclusion is desirable.

• Operational experience with social protection systems, including liaising with governments and supporting the design/implementation of social protection programmes desirable.

• Excellent understanding of national and UN institutional frameworks, incl. for financial management, is considered an asset.

Language: Proficiency in English, Fluency in Russian and/or Kyrgyz.

TALENTED WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

We look for applicants with the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian values. We commit to promote diversity, gender parity and equality between men and women.

WFP strives to build a work environment that is safe and respectful, and free of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. We believe in open communication, and every individual at WFP is treated with respect regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, etc.

Closing date: 1 June 2021

WFP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.

OPEN TO KYRGYZSTAN NATIONALS ONLY