Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Project Manager

Role & Responsibilities

Develop, establish and manage Medair’s cash programming in Syria. This involves initial assessment, engaging with other actors, designing the project(s), contributing to proposals, developing and documenting processes and procedures, effectively managing and reporting on the project, capturing learning and shaping Medair’s cash strategy within Syria.

Project Overview

Medair’s programme in Syria is responding to the multiple crises within Syria, including providing assistance to Syrian IDPs and people affected by the ongoing crisis, as well as the recent earthquake. Projects are in the sectors of Health, Mental Health, WASH, and Shelter/NFI.

Workplace & Working conditions

Field based position in Aleppo, Syria with travel to other bases. Base of location may be changed to Damascus in 2025.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, 1 year with possible extension to 2 years.

Key Activity Areas

Project Management

• Conduct an assessment of the current context of CVA in Syria, identifying opportunities and challenges that the implementation of CVA in the programme implies.
• Design a cash project based on identified gaps & Medair’s strategy, working with staff from different sectors.
• Establish systems to efficiently implement CVA interventions, including the development of SOPs.
• Manage the assigned project(s) and report promptly any operational concerns to line manager (e.g. projected failure to meet objectives; increased beneficiary needs; projected over or under spending on project budget).
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned project(s), working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local authorities and local staff.
• Contribute to development and implementation of an appropriate and effective strategy including proactive planning for responsible exit in consultation with staff, field managers and, with the local communities.
• Set clear objectives and indicators for project activities in collaboration with the staff and field managers.
• Monitor & supervise project activities, evaluating progress through outputs & impacts using both quantitative & qualitative data, and involving the project team in analysis and taking actions to ensure continued progress.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor and timeframes and formats.
• Develop new proposals, linked to the assessed needs and gaps and the Medair country strategy.
• Facilitate design & potential implementation of a pilot blockchain project, with the global advisor.

Information Management

• Monitor the data collection related to beneficiaries, Medair’s selection of households and the tracking of cash payments to beneficiaries. Manage implementation of Household Profiling Questionnaires (HPQs) and uploading of data onto UNHCR’s RAIS and Activity Info databases.
• Ensure effective systems regarding database management and security are in place and maintained.
• Ensure data gathering is done according to the sector standards and results of lessons learned are integrated into the project. Household data is currently collected using Open Data Kit (ODK) through tablet software.
• Exchange best practices with other actors working in data collection, GIS mapping or crowd sourcing.

Staff Management

• Line-manage staff of the assigned project(s), including day-to-day management, recruitment, development and training, performance reviews, etc. It may also be necessary to line manage other project staff.
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback.
• Provide coaching & technical supervision to staff to develop ownership & responsibility for project activities.

Financial Management

• Manage the budget for the assigned project(s) and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance.
• Support the team where needed in the selection, the set-up and management of cash assistance modalities for the project, in alignment with sector standards of the concerned banking institutions.

Communication and Coordination

• Develop appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned team, Medair in-country and GSO managers and advisors to ensure good partnerships.
• Participate in coordination meetings with the Basic Assistance (CASH) working group, Medair internal training, representing Medair and feeding back to staff and field managers on relevant issues.
• Liaise with the GSO CVA Advisor for the support with the project design and CVA country strategy drafting.

Quality Management

• Liaise with the logistics and finance staff to ensure process meets auditing standards in a timely manner.
• Ensure projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards i.e. CALP, Sphere and CHS standards.
• Ensure the inclusion of multichannel feedback measures, data protection considerations and security aspects to be implemented to avoid fraud and corruption as well as unattended effects.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University or College degree in a relevant field.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience

• 2 years post-qualification professional experience with at least 1-year project management experience.
• Experience working in humanitarian context. Experience working with cash projects.
• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation. Problem solving ability.
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of projects.