Child Protection Cash Officer

Job Overview

Under the technical supervision of the Senior Child Protection Manager, the Child Protection (CP) Cash Officer will be responsible to support the CP team in all aspects related to protection cash interventions. The Cash for Protection component is envisioned as a protection measure to enhance the coping capacity of vulnerable children and their families, particularly those at high risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Cash for Protection can provide immediate relief by facilitating access to essential services or addressing urgent needs that might otherwise be unattainable due to financial constraints. The position is directly supervised by the Senior Child Protection Manager and will be based on one of the IRC’s implementing locations including Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Kharkiv, ensuring effective program delivery and coordination with key focal points. The CP Cash Officer will work closely with CP Senior Officers, CP Case Management Officers, CP Case Workers, the CP National MEAL Officer, and any other relevant cross-cutting functions within the Child Protection program.

 Primary Responsibilities:

1. Database Management and Reporting

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date database for tracking registration, client statistics, and cash disbursements related to Cash for Protection interventions.
• Prepare regular data analysis and reports to provide insights into the effectiveness, reach, and trends of cash assistance interventions for vulnerable children and families. Consolidate and write weekly and monthly reports, along with any other project reports as requested, to ensure transparent communication of progress and challenges.
• Ensure proper archiving of project documents in both hard and soft copy, taking into account confidentiality standards.

2. Technical Oversight of Cash Transfers:

• Coordinate the technical aspects of cash transfer mechanisms, ensuring timely and secure disbursements to beneficiaries.
• Regularly assess and adapt cash transfer methods in line with evolving technologies and best practices, ensuring they meet the needs of children and families at high risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

3. Client Identification and Eligibility:

• Support Child Protection Case Workers in identifying children and families eligible for cash-for-protection assistance based on established criteria.
• Collaborate with case management teams to ensure an inclusive approach that addresses the needs of diverse populations, including children with disabilities, marginalized groups, and those in hard-to-reach areas.

4. Development and Harmonization of SOPs and Tools:

• Participate in developing, reviewing, and harmonizing Cash for Protection SOPs, guidelines, tools, and approaches to ensure alignment with broader Child Protection and IRC strategies.
• Ensure that these resources support high-quality project planning, design, and implementation.

5. Cash Distribution Compliance:

• Ensure all cash distributions are properly documented and aligned with technical quality standards, accountability, and protection protocols, adhering to donor and organizational regulations.
• Work with the MEAL team to conduct post-distribution monitoring to assess the impact of cash assistance and make necessary adjustments.

6. Capacity Building:

• Provide training and technical guidance to Child Protection and partner staff involved in cash programming to enhance their understanding of cash-for-protection interventions, ensuring a child-centered approach.

7. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• In collaboration with the MEAL team, design and implement monitoring frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness and protection outcomes of cash interventions.
• Track lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities to improve the program, documenting and sharing best practices across teams.

Additional Responsibilities:

1. Cross-Departmental Coordination:

• Engage with the Protection, Rule of Law (PRoL), Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and MEAL teams to conduct joint assessments, gather evidence on cash intervention effectiveness, and explore opportunities for integration with other protection programs.

2. Advocacy and Representation:

• Represent the Child Protection team in internal and external coordination meetings on Cash for Protection, advocating for the inclusion of the specific needs of vulnerable children and families in broader cash-based assistance strategies.
• Collaborate with local and international stakeholders to promote effective cash interventions as a vital tool in child protection responses.

3. Adaptation to Emerging Needs:

• Continuously review the Cash for Protection approach, ensuring it is responsive to emerging child protection trends, including new risks or barriers faced by children and families (e.g., during displacement, conflict escalation, or community changes).

4. Documentation and Learning:

• Lead efforts to document lessons learned, success stories, and challenges from the Cash for Protection interventions, contributing to the broader learning within the Child Protection team and across the humanitarian sector.

Job Requirements:

–A degree desired in social work, social sciences, business, international relations, human rights law or other related field, or equivalent work experience.

–At least 2-3 years’ with INGOs and/or private sector organizations focused on development or humanitarian assistance.

–Experience working with children experiencing or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation will be preferred

–Experience working with case management programs will be preferred

–Demonstrated understanding and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries.

–Excellent communication skills.

–High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, and pay attention to detail.

–Computer literacy, including Microsoft Word and Excel.

–Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

–Good skills in spoken and written English; fluent in Ukrainian and/or Russian

This position will be based in IRC’s field offices either Odesa, Kharkiv or Dnipro, with frequent travel to field locations required.

Work Environment and Other Relevant Information:

IRC employees are eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Purposeful job and development opportunities
• English classes and unlimited online training courses
• Life Insurance
• Medical insurance for staff and family members
• Free psychological support to employees
• 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
• Up to 10 days of paid medical leave