Programme Policy Officer - Cash Based Transfer, International Consultancy, 11 months, Bamako (Mali)

Programme & Policy

Overview

Support the Cash Based Transfer programmes and interventions effectively

You have:

• Advance university degree or Masters in International Affairs, Economics, Financial Technology, Social Sciences or relevant field.
• At least 6 years of relevant experience including operational and technical experience in CBT programme.
• Proficiency (level C) of French and English in both oral and written communication.
• Understanding of the theory and application of food security, nutrition and safety net programmes.
• Excellent understanding of CBT programming.
• Experience in complex emergencies and protracted crisis situations.
• Capacity to design, set-up, run and coordinate large-scale cash operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and implementing change management.
• Operational troubleshooting and experience working cross-functionally across multiple field offices.

JOB TITLE:

Programme Policy Officer - Cash Based Transfer

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

Short term-Consultancy

UNIT/DIVISION:

Programme

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Bamako, Mali

DURATION:

11 months

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About World Food programme:

The United Nations 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.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

In 2020, the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mali provided around $57 million USD in cash-based transfer (CBT) assistance to one million beneficiaries. The modality of CBT is utilized for a number of different activities including, General Food Assistance (GFA), Livelihoods, Nutrition, and for Social Protection transfers. CBT is currently provided through paper vouchers, direct cash, and mobile money. The CO has undertaken a large-scale digitization effort to digitize all beneficiary registration data, digitize the creation of payment lists, and introduce automated reconciliation processes. These efforts should be strengthened.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will be supporting on Cash-based Transfers programmes and interventions, in accordance with appropriate policies, guidelines, procedures and processes. The CBT officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Contribute to the formulation and implementation of a CBT programme strategy in line with the organizational strategy, WFP-wide programme policies and context at Country Office level; translate the CBT strategy and WFP-wide programme policies into country level practices;
2. Support the different WFP teams responsible for achieving the Strategic Objectives of the WFP country strategic plan to design integrated cash-based transfer programmes and identify areas of overlap with other stakeholders in terms of geography and programme purpose, programme design and delivery, joint objectives and exit strategies.
3. Be innovative and visionary at the programme design phase to reach the highest effectiveness of a given response. Proactively juggle with transfer modalities to reach the most appropriate choice for a defined context; consider opportunities for multipurpose cash, integration of market interventions into existing programmes to make emergency responses more responsive to local markets and more beneficial to general coping capacities or, consider financial inclusion to empower both beneficiaries and communities beyond the end of the project life, or consider linking the delivery system with reliable existing systems from financial service providers, private sector or governments to boost the sustainability of the project, etc.

4. Lead on the Country Office cash-based transfer emergency programmes, be flexible and adjust operational planning if changes in context require it, working closely with other functions and teams

5. Coordinate the CO’s efforts throughout the CBT programme cycle, on cash-based transfer programme design, delivery, and quality assurance. This includes a wide range of programme and policy issues such as assessment and analysis, intervention design and purpose, activities, cash disbursement mechanisms, and transition of modalities, monitoring, as well as amendments to programme implementation as and when required.

6. Guide and coordinate Country Office units (e.g. Logistics, Procurement, ICT, Finance, M&E and VAM (food security analysis)) to ensure synchronized technical backstopping and compliance with corporate policy, strategic objectives, guidance, and incorporation of gender perspectives in programme design, intervention set-up and implementation of CBT operations;
7. In collaboration with other units develop, update and ensure Standard Operational procedures (SOP) aligned with corporate manuals and guidelines;
8. Identify and select cooperating partners and, in collaboration with Finance, Supply Chain or IT, financial service providers able to deal efficiently and effectively with the delivery part of the cash-based transfers programmes. Negotiate in details Field Level Agreements and/or Service Providers contracts according to established rules and regulations;
9. Support the oversight and audit missions, and ensure that the recommendations from the mission/s are duly implemented in the country office, and related documents and processes are regularly updated and aligned with the corporate policies with support from RBB and HQ cross-functional teams.
10. Enhance and ensure WFP’s leadership status in different fora such as external Cash Working Group, Social Protection Working Group, and other related fora on cash-based transfers
11. Develop operational partnerships and maintain close contact with key partners. Advise on opportunities for strategic collaboration; for example assist counterparts in governments and/or other stakeholders in identifying where CBT interventions can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of CBT programmes, including as part of social protection programmes;
12. Manage or oversee the preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information and evidence products or proposals for internal or external use such as evidence building, advocacy purposes, and fund generation.
13. Build the capacities of a CBT team in design, delivery and assurance at national and sub-office level.
14. Support the capacity building of partners and national government to prepare for and respond to food assistance needs with cash based transfer modalities,
15. Advocate for resources and ensure the best use of assigned financial funds to CBT for the achievement of set objectives within a dedicated budget

Language: Proficiency (level C) of French and English in both oral and written communication will be essential.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the theory and application of food security, nutrition and safety net programmes.

Understanding of Project Cycle Management and its application;

• Excellent understanding of CBT programming
• Demonstrated experience in taking initiatives when implementing programmes;
• Experience in complex emergencies and protracted crisis situations is an advantage;
• Good background knowledge in financing processes and experience in analytical work are desirable assets.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advance university degree or Masters in International Affairs, Economics, Financial Technology, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international humanitarian and development assistance.

Experience

• At least 6 years of relevant experience including operational and technical experience in CBT programme. Experience in a Country Office and in emergency context is also required.

  • Experience in the design, set-up, implementation and monitoring of transfer modality systems (in-kind food and cash based transfers);
  • Proven capacity to manage innovation in programme approaches;
  • Awareness and strong interest on social protection issues especially the knowledge of policies and practices around long-term financial opportunities for poor and vulnerable people are highly valued

  Skills & Knowledge

• Capacity to design, set-up, run and coordinate large-scale cash operations.

  • Demonstrated experience managing teams and implementing change management.
  • Experience and familiarity with WFP corporate systems including SCOPE and DAT.
  • Operational troubleshooting and experience working cross-functionally across multiple field offices.
  • Ability to establish and maintain partnerships with internal and external partners and.
  • Capacity to work independently with limited support and to adapt to new context.
  • Understanding of WFP’s corporate and regional priorities, corporate guidance and how to implement and adapt them in Country Offices.

  • Understanding of WFP Country Office structure and field experience.

  • Ability to communicate effectively and compellingly, orally and in writing;

  • Coordination skills and ability to work across units in WFP
  • Strong motivation to make a difference and to contribute to WFP’s mandate;
  • Effective cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills;
  • Learning agility and thirst for constant growth;
  • Openness and passion for new experiences and creativity in problem solving;
  • Planning and organisational abilities
  • Take initiatives when implementing programmes;

  Languages

  French and English (fluent). Any other UN languages, a plus.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org