Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on vulnerable children, agriculture, health and HIV, extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Cash Working Group Technical Co-chair

Req Number: I4354
Location: Maiduguri-Borno State

Background
Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) has been used in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria since 2013. A range of humanitarian actors, as well as national authorities and development partners, are currently either considering or planning to significantly scale up such programs to ensure households have access to basic needs, while also reinforcing choice, dignity and accountability for those affected. Cash transfers are also increasingly being used to leverage the potential for addressing recovery needs and for bridging the divide between humanitarian and development programming.

Following a CALP-organized workshop in November 2016, the Cash Working Group (CWG) in Abuja reviewed the Terms of Reference of the Borno CWG. It was decided that the Borno CWG would focus on operational and technical issues, while the Abuja CWG would focus on strategic and advocacy issues at the national level. Considering the significant amount of technical priorities to be addressed by the group, it was also agreed that dedicated technical capacity would be established to support the strategic level coordination responsibilities of the chair of the CWG in Northeast Nigeria, covering the three states most affected by the humanitarian crisis, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

CRS has received funding from USAID/OFDA to host a CWG Technical Co-chair and is looking for a person to fill this position starting mid-July 2018.

Purpose
To work with humanitarian actors in NE Nigeria for the development of a community of practice around cash transfer programming and building capacity of interested parties. To harmonize approaches, build evidence and best practice in country through sharing of experience and contribute to national and global learning.

The co-chair drives collective progress and provides technical expertise for jointly agreed priorities established by the cash working group, considering their collective views and seeking to achieve consensus and collaboration by the group. In line with member expertise and interest, other agencies may be designated to lead on activities. Depending on the collective agreement by the CWG members and needs on the ground, activities may include the following:

• Establish regular technical exchange with CWG members with a view to promoting an inclusive and transparent decision-making process;
• Develop and support, whenever possible, harmonized tools, approaches and procedures in CTP, including the harmonization of vulnerability criteria, transfer values, modalities of payment, assessment and monitoring activities;
• Collaborate on joint assessments, planning, targeting and monitoring, when necessary;
• Ensure beneficiary involvement, accountability and transparency in CTP;
• Highlight cash and voucher transfer interventions that are most likely to be effective in each situation, drawing upon lessons learned and examples of good practice for rapid and appropriate response;
• Build CWG capacity[1]through formal trainings, learning events and continued sharing/exchange of practical learning;
• Encourage collective negotiations with service providers for effective cash and voucher programme delivery;
• Identify and advocate for opportunities to link emergency cash transfer projects with longer-term support to social transfers as part of social protection strategies, potentially significantly strengthening CTP preparedness at the State level.
• Document cash-based experiences and maintain a repository of information, learning and reference resources.
• Ensure organizations' cash based programming are accurately represented across all sectors in the 5w
• In coordination with OCH support the development of the Cash Based Grant section of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP)
• Additionally, the following are key activities, tasks, and responsibilities that need to be completed by the end of the assignment.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities
Co-chair cash coordination and a community of practice:

• In coordination with the OCHA CWG Co-chair, work with organizations involved with cash/market based interventions.
• As the NGO counterpart, co-chair the technical working group and represent this working group in relevant cluster meetings (food assistance, shelter, health, etc.) and other external fora.
• Facilitate and maintain a community of practice in country through information sharing, guidance, advice and exchange of technical support. Promote cash-transfer programming in the country.

Deliverables:

• Identify viable options for cash transfer mechanisms in NE Nigeria with details on costs and operational requirements (ex. lead time between submitting beneficiary lists and payments).
• Manage the technical aspect of coordination through meeting management as well as partner and stakeholder follow-up on pending issues from partners.
• Presentations in clusters and other relevant external fora. Develop context specific tools on cash- and voucher transfers and support other NGOs in using these tools
• In coordination with active stakeholder, develop a Financial Service Provider (FSP) expansion strategy to support the transition from voucher programming to multi-purpose cash programming as appropriate e) Support collaboration amongst CWG group members to identify areas of improvement to more efficiently and effectively program markets based interventions

Capacity Building & Learning:

• Identify capacity building needs through ongoing engagement with CWG member organizations and build capacity in cash transfer programming through conducting at least 2 basic trainings for CTP practitioners.

Deliverables:

• Determine learning event needs and facilitate the planning and implementation of learning events
• Identify capacity building needs, facilitate the development of priority training needs in collaboration with the partners and cross-sector leads.
• Follow up with participants of trainings on the utilization of knowledge gained and identify local "cash/voucher experts" for a continuation of cash coordination.

Research & Advocacy:

• Keep an overview on market functionality and elasticity in NE Nigeria. Gather information on the impact of in-kind programming versus voucher programming versus cash-based programming. Advocate for market based programming where this is considered most appropriate based on evidence.

Deliverables:

• Facilitate the sharing of project evaluation information across CWG actors to in an effort to identify trends in best practice and areas for improvement across market based programming.
• Evidence of impact of in-kind programming versus voucher programming vs cash programming with advocacy for market based programming where this is considered most appropriate.
• Provide information to and gain information from donors, Government and the corporate sector to facilitate funding opportunities for cash learning and interventions.

Skills & Experience

• A Master's Degree in an appropriate technical field (Humanitarian Assistance, Food Security and Livelihoods, etc).
• A minimum of 3-years' experience in cash/voucher/e-voucher transfer programming in a humanitarian response setting.
• Experience in research; collecting and analyzing information and presenting well-written reports.
• Strong public speaking skills. Able to present information to an external audience and conduct trainings.
• Excellent coordination skills such as ability to liaise with various agencies/individuals, organize events, priorities work and ensure a smooth flow of information and an environment of cooperation and information sharing.
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to influence decision makers.
• Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills, together with the capacity to remain calm under pressure and not lose sight of strategic priorities.
• Ability to work independently and to work with people located in different geographic locations and in other organizations.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English.
• A sound understanding of the importance of gender in humanitarian work.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Committed to Equal Opportunities (e.g., gender, race, disability).
• Innovative and creative to find lasting solutions to rapid, timely and appropriate humanitarian response.
• Experience and training in the EMMA tool kit is an advantage.

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2018.
 

Job Disclaimer

• This job description is not exhaustive of all duties which might be assigned.
• This will be linked to the annual CWG Capacity Building Plan developed by the CWG Nigeria.