Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist

Organizational Setting

This position is in FAO Pakistan, based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The following position is SB4-SC8

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, in collaboration with the Deputy FAOR and the Province Coordinator, and under the direct supervision of Assistant Representative Program and in close coordination with concerned FAO colleagues, the Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Technical Focus

Ensure timely delivery of all activities related to:

• Cash and Voucher Assistance
• Have previous experience in disaster risk management
• Experience in development of SOPs for CVA

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support throughout the design, planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring phases of cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming in Pakistan,
• Ensure the CVA interventions in Pakistan are compliant with the FAO Manual Section 702 and 704
• Provide technical support in the identification process of Implementing Partners (IPs) involved in the support of cash & voucher assistance-based activities (identification and registration of beneficiaries, organization of CVA, etc.) and elaboration of the Letters of agreement through the development of the terms of reference,
• Provide technical support in the identification process of financial service providers (FSP) up to the elaboration of the contracts for the distribution of cash & voucher assistance to beneficiaries through the design of the terms of reference and the technical assessment of FSPs;
• Support provided in developing, reviewing and improving the project ideas, concept notes, proposals and project documents involving CVA modalities
• Contribute to the operational monitoring of the management of contracts with financial service providers;
• Maintain beneficiary databases in relation to cash transfers,
• Update existing and develop new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the implementation of CVA assistance program;
• Provide technical and operational support on CVA to FAO provincial offices at all steps of the project cycle;
• Lead and support baseline & cash post-distribution monitoring activities – including the questionnaire used – related to the disbursement process and utilization of CVA in close collaboration with M&E team as well as RAP CVA expert.
• Contribute to the systematization of experiences, good practices and lessons learned as well as the measurement of the impact of CVA program;
• Actively participate to existing cash coordination groups/structure (e.g. Cash Working Group) as well as AA cash technical working groups as required and contribute to the minimum expenditure basket (MEB) discussion and overall coordination.
• Coordination and liaise with key stakeholders from government, humanitarian and development actors working in CVA
• Follow up the national initiatives related to the development of a Shock Responsive Social Protection system in Pakistan with the concerned entities and advocate for potential synergies with the FAO-PAK CVA modalities;
• Support work on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) through the promotion of data collection by FAO staff and Partners Organization on beneficiaries’ preferences (cash, vouchers, in-kind) and the appropriate follow up of complaints and feedback relation to CVA interventions
• Support the development of new modalities and payment mechanisms particularly in new digital payment solutions as appropriate including the testing and rolling out phase in close coordination with RAP and HQ offices.
• Support, in consultation with the FAO-PAK communication officer, communication on CVA related activities through tailored products and different means including web, photo/video, social media, press releases;
• Provide inputs for the periodic and final reports, country briefs and other corporate updates/reporting requirements
• Any other tasks related to CVA assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advance University degree in financial management, accounting, Business administration (finance), Social Sciences, Economics / Agriculture Economics.
• At least Eight (8) years of relevant experience in project or programme formulation, implementation, management, administration or related area.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and Urdu
• National of Pakistan.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work

Selection Criteria

• Work experience in large and complex projects that combines emergency response, resilience strengthening and disaster risk reduction with UN, international NGOs, and with ministries, national institutions, and the rural sector in Pakistan is an advantage.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, is desirable.
• Have work experience to manage multi-donor and multi-projects.
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams is essential

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION