Emergency Response Cash Advisor

Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has launched a new program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal. The program will be a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area. The new program, called “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (Bhakari)”, builds upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response through cash transfer programming. Parallel to the emergency cash programming are emergency-prevention components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach.

General Position Summary

The ER Cash Advisor, under the leadership of the Deputy Chief of Party, will oversee the cash for work (CFW)/ unconditional cash transfer (UCT) activities in coordination with program, finance and operations staff. They will be responsible for ensuring that CFW and UCT guidelines (standard operating procedures) are followed for all cash activities for the program and maintaining relationships with financial service providers to facilitate the cash transfers to beneficiaries. The ER Cash Advisor will work with all consortium and local partners to implement quality cash programme design, tools, and the associated M&E framework. Other key tasks include leading market assessments and price monitoring and supporting needs assessments. The ER Cash Advisor will take a lead role in representation at various high level cash coordination forums within Nepal and Mercy Corps’ global working groups. The responsibilities of the position will also include technical capacity building, mentoring and guidance for consortium partners, local partners & in-country programs, and support to promote cash coordination and harmonization efforts across Mercy Corps programs and locations.
The ER CV Advisor will be expected to work closely with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) focal points. Moreover, as gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), child safeguarding, governance and environmental sensitivity are cross-cutting and core components of the all MC programs, the ER Cash Advisor is required to own these components and ensure these components are integrated into their work area. They should support the GESI and child safeguarding assessments in coordination with MEAL Manager and Safeguarding Focal point.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Support Bhakari program in strategizing and developing unconditional cash and CFW interventions as appropriate.
• Work with relevant technical sector advisors and field management to promote the consideration of cash modalities to optimize use of cash modalities to meet basic needs, food assistance, shelter support, WASH, and early economic recovery.
• Develop strategies with the field management and sector leads to ensure that cash and CFW best practices are systematically implemented and up-dated in the overall response interventions.
• If needed, contribute to country-wide strategy development, promoting the efficacy of cash and voucher assistance as appropriate.

Technical Oversight

• Gather/analyze data and complete assessments to determine program needs and priorities. Lead on determining the most appropriate cash delivery modality/modalities for the context.
• Design Mercy Corps’ UCT and CFW for the response in Nepal and ensure it encompasses elements of broader agency goals such as social protection, market resilience, food security, WASH, and social cohesion.
• Support in the development of hiqh quality written SOPs and drive implementation with the Bhakari Program team.
• Monitor the use of SoPs and adjust them periodically, as required.
• Coordinate programming and the harmonization of ways of working, associated SOPs, tools, and approaches with Consortium partners and the wider community.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Collaborate with the program teams and the MEL function to conduct relevant assessments, present evidence on effectiveness of UCT and CFW, and advise on practices around programming for further expansion. Ensure that monitoring and evaluation for the cash interventions is practical and reflects best practices.
• Provide adequate control over cash operations and ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Infuse market interventions into existing programs to ensure Bhakari is responsive to local markets and enhance beneficiaries’ coping capacities.
• Ensure quality control, value-added and impact analyses, identification and capitalization of best practices and lessons learned and make relevant feedback for adaptive management of cash interventions.
• Contribute to the drafting of reports on cash activities, in accordance with the requirements of Mercy Corps and USAID.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget.

Team Management and Capacity Building

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Contribute to drafting scope of work/hiring cash-focused team members and technical consultants. Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary. Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Facilitate trainings and regular coaching sessions to ensure all project staff are concurrent with UCT and CFW systems, tools and methodologies
• Strengthen the capacity of all staff’s understanding of and contribution to cash programming.

Influence & Representation

• Coordinate with the Kathmandu-based Cash Coordination Group Specialist in representing Mercy Corps at the Cash Working Groups and other relevant coordination mechanisms such as Food Security, etc.
• Represent Mercy Corps in Consortium meetings, as required.
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Work with the Regional and HQ Program teams to identify additional opportunities for medium-term and longer-term market-based programming and/or complementary programming.

Finance and Compliance Management

• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance
• Work closely with finance/compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities
• Support and orient on MC Code of Ethics and uphold Mercy Corps’ Zero tolerance of corruption policy

Security

• Work closely with relevant field management staff to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of operating teams when implementing UCT and CFW activities.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Other

• Ensure proper integration of safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector specific project planning and implementation.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor, Chief of Party, and/or Country Director.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Deputy Chief of Party

Works Directly with: Bhakari consortium team, including implementation partners, Cash Coordination Group Specialist, Mercy Corps Nepal’s operations, HR, finance and other project teams; Mercy Corps’ HQ teams including technical advisors in cash and digital cash, gender, protection and emergency response, plus the US-based finance and project support teams. In particular, close coordination with Mercy Corps’ regional and HQ-level Cash teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in cash programming required
• Strong understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge about UCT and CFW
• Demonstrated technical competence to lead rapid market assessments, identify and initiate setup of payment mechanisms, conduct response analysis and cash program design, develop cash SOPs designed to reduce risk and enhance quality.
• Understanding of social protection, and linkages between CTP and social protection systems, desirable.
• Previous CVA experience in complex/emergency responses, and working with a consortium in Nepal context is preferred.
• Experience with the design, implementation & compliance of USAID (OFDA and FFP)-funded cash programming preferred.
• BA/S in economic development, international relations or other relevant degree
• Experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives.
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders
• Experience working with international NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on development or humanitarian assistance.
• Excellent oral and written English and Nepali skills required, knowledge of local languages highly preferred
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

A successful Emergency Response Cash Advisor will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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