Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist

Job Summary:

The CVA Specialist will manage and lead the Cash and Voucher Assistance related responses across ADRA Myanmar program. The CVA Specialist will be responsible for supporting the planning, implementation and tracking the achievement of the project targets related to CVA.

The CVA Specialist will provide technical direction, provide recommendations for improvements, evaluate, and build the local capacity of project teams and coordinate with local partners as and where assigned. The CVA Specialist will assess current needs on an ongoing basis and assist in the business development process to ensure future funding. The CVA Specialist will conduct market assessments and monitor changes in market prices. Regular activity reports and market studies will be required.

The CVA Specialist will support other ADRA sector teams to incorporate cash and voucher approaches into their programming. The position will also play a critical role in enhancing operations of cash and voucher programs by strengthening practice and procedure between ADRA’s program, finance, and supply chain teams.

The position requires an individual that has experience in CVA programming, emergency programming and is self-directed, flexible, and highly responsive.

Main Responsibilities

General Duties

• Uphold the mission and values of ADRA Myanmar.
• Adhere to the regulations, procedures, and policies of ADRA Myanmar.

Key Responsibilities

• Strength the ADRA Organizational Cash Readiness (assessment and improvement plan)
• Organize and bring technical support to ADRA team to get CVA training (online CaLP training).
• Provision of direction and overall management of the cash and voucher components of ADRA programs and improvement of the cash preparedness of ADRA.
• Support the development of policies and guidelines including and not limited to SOPs, Beneficiary registers, data protection requirements, information management tools, risk mitigation and management tools, vendor/FSP mapping tools etc, communication material for CVA interventions of ADRA based on international and local standards.
• Development of work plans according to project outputs and outcomes as per donor agreement.
• Lead with feasibility and market assessments and provide recommendations on the feasibility of CVA interventions and modalities.
• Lead the design and conduction of assessments and monitoring efforts (including utilization of tools and means such as monitoring through site observations, exit surveys, PDMs and market and price monitoring etc. as appropriate) such as and ensure strong data analysis to inform programming including identification of priorities and preference of target communities, in collaboration with the MEAL Specialist
• Lead and support the Cash Feedback and complaint mechanics at community level.
• Prepare and organize Leaning meetings on Cash from ADRA interventions and documented it.
• Lead the identification effort of vulnerable families in the targeted areas and ensure the high quality of the data collected during the assessment.
• Coordinate and lead with development and facilitation of dissemination of CVA messages and ensure appropriate end effective feedback and complaint mechanisms are established.
• Ensure that gender, environment, and protection are mainstreamed throughout activities.
• Prepare and organize the cash distributions in liaison with the relevant ADRA staff and with Financial Service Providers including the preparation of the SoWs and contracts for FSPs, beneficiary list, relevant supporting documents, etc.
• Liaise with local authorities, other NGOs, and other relevant coordination bodies to avoid duplication of assistance and exclusion/inclusion errors.
• Enhance referrals pathways across programs/sectors and ensure information dissemination of project objectives to communities.
• Advocate and support development of integrated programs to support wholistic recovery and development efforts across ADRA’s portfolio.
• Support proposal development and budget planning based on data analyzed and needs mapped and identified across the country for both individual projects and at strategic planning of ADRA
• Provide timely program reports that meet ADRA and donor requirements.
• Represent ADRA at the Cash Working Groups, relevant cluster meetings, and other stakeholder or coordination meetings, as needed, and maintain a positive, continuous, and visible presence for ADRA.
• Prepare and present information on the CVA components of ADRA’s projects and overall CVA program including analysis of results and conditions.
• Support CWG and other related clusters in determining the transfer values (localized and national) based on data collected and analyzed through programs.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with local partners, local authorities, and communities.
• Work with other teams to ensure sound practices about record keeping, compliance with donor regulations, communications, etc.
• Lead with recording best practices & recommendations, case studies, innovations & pilots and in dissemination of such reports and findings based on supervisor’s input.
• Assess and capacitate project teams on CVA to ensure effective and efficient programs are implemented across ADRA’s portfolio.
• Facilitate donor visits to project sites as required
• Stay current with all regional and country-specific response plans by donors active in the CVA sector, and other stakeholders.
• Attend project team meetings and provide support towards planning, monitoring, capacity building etc. as needed.
• Provide regular updates to the supervisor and management team as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelors/ master’s degree in social science, disaster management, project management, economics, business administration, or related field.
• Certificate of CVA fundamental by CaLP
• Professional experience in developing countries on managing cash-based assistance programs.
• Experience of organizing Market Assessments needed for cash planning
• Experience in contracting and working with financial service providers.
• Experience in analyzing market systems, CVA feasibility assessments and vendor/FSP selection
• Good understanding of the project cycle – including beneficiary targeting, aid delivery mechanisms, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in budget management, including for institutional donors
• Good understanding of core humanitarian standards (CHS) including safeguarding and Accountability to Affected Population (AAP)
• Experience in managing teams, including volunteers.
• Significant analytical skills and ability to suggest and implement solutions to complex project related challenges
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, priorities and deadlines efficiently and effectively. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience working within Myanmar (Preferred)
• Advanced English proficiency, in writing, speaking, reading