Cash Working Group Technical Co-chair, Nigeria at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

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, Nigeria

Req Number: I4994
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job Type: Regular, Full time
Reports to: CRS Emergency Coordinator
Department: Maiduguri, Nigeria, CARO
Salary Grade: 9

Background
Cash And Voucher Assistance (CVA) 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. In coordination with OCHA, CRS co-chairs the CWG since 2018.

Job Summary

As CWG Technical Co-Chair will 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
The co-chair will 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.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Support the development and contribute to the implementation of CWG strategy, sector standards, tools and best practices in cash transfer programming that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
Provide technical solutions to members, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.
Support capacity strengthening initiatives in cash transfer programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.
Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the cash transfer learning agenda.
Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of cash transfer programming to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
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.
In coordination with OCH support the development of the Cash Based Grant section of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP)

Specific focus for FY20:

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 and national NGOs.
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.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – Program teams, Emergency Coordinator, Market TAs.
External – Sector leads, CWG members, national and international NGOS, UN agencies, government representative.

Basic Qualifications

Master’s Degree in a field related to Humanitarian Assistance, Food Security And Livelihoods or other applicable area required.
Minimum of three years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in cash transfer programming.
Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in cash transfer programming. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Required Languages:

Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English.

Travel:

Travel to Abuja for CWG meetings and coordination meetings as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
Good technical writing skills
Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications:

Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
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.
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.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results: