CASH Coordination Officer, SHA-Secondment to UNOCHA  

Operational environment

Since the beginning of the conflict on 15 April 2023, the humanitarian needs in Sudan have significantly increased. The number of people in need increased from 15.8 million based on the initial 2023 HNO to 24.8 million (2024 HNRP). The crisis created massive displacement with about 8.7 million displaced in and out of Sudan. On 29 March 2024, an IPC alert for Sudan was released, outlining the country’s dramatic food insecurity situation. The alert was developed based on the review of the latest evidence available and was issued to express major concern regarding the deteriorating food situation in the country and advocate for stakeholders to act immediately to prevent famine. IPC outlined that since the IPC results were released in December 2023, there has been a significant escalation of the conflict among armed factions and a rise in organized violence beyond the initial IPC assumptions made in previous analyses. To mitigate the deterioration, a Famine Prevention Plan was developed, and endorsed by the HCT, to respond to the situation.

Access constraints and the difficulty to deliver in-kind supplies to critical areas triggered the need to look to additional response modalities, including cash interventions. Afte the EDG mission in May 2024, it was recommended to explore the possible scale up of CVA, including the feasibility of MPCA. 

Due to the higher volume of expected Cash programming, especially multipurpose cash, and the implementation of the new coordination model in Sudan, OCHA will play an increasingly significant role in coordinating cash transfers activities. 

OCHA Country Office needs support for the effective and successfully transition towards the new coordination model and to provide adequate support to the Cash WG members, with a specific attention to national and local actors.

External support is needed to strengthen OCHA country office staff and Cash WG members capacities in Cash programming. This also includes support for adequate coordination/engagement with development programs, local and national authorities’ awareness, and trainings for a better understanding and acceptance of cash modality.

OCHA’s role and key challenges: 

Starting from the second quarter of the year, OCHA serves as the non-programmatic chair of the Cash WG. Nevertheless, it is not a dedicated capacity, neither has the required level of technical expertise for a full implementation of the new model and advise at programmatic level. The Cash Coordinator SBP will be responsible for the following tasks: 

• Ensure the non-Programmatic Co-Chair of the Cash WG, including the facilitation of coordination activities, supervision for the implementation of the annual working plan as well as provide support to the Cash WG members and coordination groups at the field level in crisis affected regions.

• Successfully build coordination with key development actors/programs such as Social protection, local/national authorities, and any other relevant stakeholders.

The main expected challenge for OCHA is to ensure a timely and efficient transition to the new coordination model and ability to take on this additional responsibility within existing capacity.

Main tasks and duties to be executed:

• Co-lead the Cash Working Group (CWG) in Sudan and accompany its members and the sectors in implementing the new model of coordination.

• Support the co-chairs in the successful implementation of the Cash WG work plan and sub-group activities, including approval of the MEB revision, risk assessment mapping exercises, etc., as well as the development and updating of IM, PI, reporting and advocacy documents related to Cash activities in the country.

• Contribute to strengthen linkages with the appropriate coordination fora – including the Humanitarian Country Team, the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group – to inform advocacy and decision-making.

• Enhance coordination with the government and other actors with a mid-term/long-term approach, in a strategic perspective to enhance preparedness including links to social protection/social safety net systems.

• Advocate to create an enabling environment for CVA, including financial policy and access frameworks.

• Support a common understanding of cash feasibility, including in relation to geographical areas and sectors, and facilitate the collective consideration of the use of cash assistance in inter-agency emergency preparedness and response planning.

• Contribute to strengthening transition of cash coordination capacity to OCHA Sudan staff. 

• Support the Cash WG Co-Chairs in promoting global commitments to localization within the framework of Cash activities, in line with in-country HCT/ICCG guidance and coordination with the Localization strategy.

• Ensure/reinforce linkages between national and regional cash coordination fora/mechanisms.

• Facilitate/support a common approach to the reflection of multi-purpose cash within the HNRP.

Expected outcome of the deployment

• Successful transition to Cash coordination new model in Sudan.

• Advocacy for multi-purpose Cash programming is conducted with senior humanitarian leaders (HCT), development actors, local/national authorities, and any other relevant stakeholders.

• A strategy on MPCA is developed by the CWG and integrated in the HNRP.

• Capacity building is provided to Cash WG members on cash programming, including appropriate mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues.

Duty station: The position will be based in Port Sudan, with regular missions as necessary in country. Around 20 per cent of travelling may be estimated. Four weeks RnR cycle/Nairobi

Security level: Port Sudan is considered E duty station.

Living conditions: Shared guest house with OCHA staff. Apartments shared with individual rooms per staff. Medical requirements e.g. vaccinations: Yellow fever to fly over Kenya  Medical facilities available: UN medical services available.

Timeframe: asap / tbd for 6 months (extendable for 6 months).

This position is exclusively open to Swiss citizens (or Lichtenstein) or holder of a valid working permit (C permit) in Switzerland. Candidates who do not fulfil this condition will not receive response.

COVID vaccination highly recommended

Contract: SHA contract

Thank you for sending your application (motivation letter, CV, diplomas and work certificates) as soon as possible to:

Lotti Roth
[email protected]
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
Humanitarian Aid
Field Resources H
Eichenweg 5
3003 Berne