Description
Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
The Cash Consortium of Sudan (CCS), a collaborative platform to advance a progressive vision of the potential of cash and markets assistance to transform humanitarian response and recovery in partnership with vulnerable conflict-affected populations in Sudan. CCS is led by Mercy Corps, building on its extensive global experience as lead agency within a cash consortium, with cash coordination and breadth of technical resources. International partners include Acted, CARE, Concern, GOAL, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), each of which bring strong cash and complementary technical competencies, as well as expansive operational coverage in Sudan. The CCS also includes ten Sudanese NGOs as partners in alignment with global aid sector commitments to enhance the prominence of local actors in driving humanitarian response and recovery. IMPACT is a non-implementing partner dedicated to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning. IMPACT will support quality data systems and an objective evidence base that will be essential to CCS’ accountability and adaptive management to refine programming approaches to enhance impact as the Sudan crisis context evolves. The CCS will work closely with other consortia and actors in Sudan to deliver an effective CVA response for communities affected by the crisis.
Purpose / Project Description:
The CCS requires support from a consultant to work with the CCS Technical Working Group (TWG) to establish an operational plan for scaling up Group Cash Transfers (GCTs) to local responders. The consultant is expected to build from the existing experiences of partners with GCTs, as well as connecting with good practices through the Localization Council. This operational plan will be inclusive of a range of local responders– both formal/ informal, as well as urban/ rural.
Consultant Objectives:
- Develop relationships with representatives of civil society, including CBOs (formal and informal), community groups, and local responders, including through regular participation in the Localization Council to shape and refine the consortium’s ability to support local actors through GCTs.
- Inform and develop the strategic vision of the CCS with regard to localisation and support to local responders, within the frame of GCTs and/or capacity support.
- Liaise with INGO partners on lessons learned and good practices related to GCTs to shape and refine the vision of the consortium’s ability to support local actors through GCTs.
- Support refinement of GCT SOPs based on learning and feedback from funded groups and other civil society actors and within the bounds of donor compliance and in partnership with Secretariat and partner program & MEL teams.
- Inform robust selection and group prioritization criteria for GCTs that ensures risk management through the appropriate targeting, conflict sensitivity, and alignment to humanitarian principles.
- Determine feasibility, success and improvements on current standards, approaches and mechanisms in place for reporting, compliance, and M&E from the point of view of groups supported with GCTs.
- Explore and update potential risks, implications, or conflict sensitivity considerations surrounding the implementation of GCT’s based on Sudanese historical precedent and current conflict dynamics.
- Ensure the consortium GCT activities are compliant with donor and grant holder rules and regulations.
- Maintain accurate records of activities, prepare periodic progress reports, and contribute to donor reporting requirements as relates to CCS GCTs.
- Respond to information requests, draft success stories, monitor and report on the impact of the CCS GCTs.
- Engage with CCS Secretariat team (Finance, MEAL, Policy, Research & Advocacy, grant holder headquarters) and with CCS partners in the development of proposals, reports, success stories, briefs, grant/sub-grant maintenance and other tasks as assigned by the CCS Director.
- Participate where relevant in external representation of the consortium with various groups, including donors, UN agencies, the World Bank and local authorities where relevant/ feasible.
- Represent consortium progress to donors as well as within the Cash Working Group, the Emergency Livelihoods Cluster, other relevant clusters, working groups related to Social Protection, and other coordination fora as strategic.
- Share learning from the consortium with the greater humanitarian and development community within Sudan as well as regionally and globally, as relevant.
- Contribute to thought leadership on GCT-related themes including localization, compliance, conflict sensitivity, and humanitarian ethics.
Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will:
- Partner with local responders and CCS partners to establish a common targeting system (that also supports rationalization with support from other actors with non-CCS funds to support overall coherence and avoid duplication)
- Partner with local responders and CCS partners to establish a common tracking system on which groups are assisted by which international partners (that also supports rationalization with support from other actors with non-CCS funds to support overall coherence and avoid duplication)
- Develop recommendations on structures to support scaling GCTs within the CCS for discussion amongst partners
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will deliver:
- Common targeting system (approx 31 July)
- Common tracking system on which groups are assisted by which international partners (approx 31 July)
- Develop recommendations on structures to support scaling GCTs within the CCS for discussion amongst partners (approx 29 August)
- Reporting on CCS GCTs (approx 30 September)
- Reporting on CCS GCTs (approx 31 October)
- Reporting on CCS GCTs (approx 30 November)
- Compile learning brief and recommendations on further scaling GCTs (approx 31 December)
Note that deliverables/ timelines may be adjusted based on mutual agreement between the Consultant and the CCS Director.
Timeframe / Schedule:
1 July – 31 December 2024 (maximum of 132 days)
The Consultant will report to:
Cash Consortium of Sudan Director
The Consultant will work closely with:
Localization Council, Cash Consortium of Sudan Secretariat, Cash Consortium of Sudan Technical Working Group, Mercy Corps’ global Cash and Markets Technical Support Unit.
Required Experience & Skills:
- BA/BS or equivalent in international studies, economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred
- 5-7 years of international relief and development program management experience, in emergency and recovery program management
- Previous experience in supporting consortia, coordinating forums or managing/ facilitating/ influencing in network or partnership settings required
- Previous experience with focus on localization initiatives and/or engagement with civil society is required
- Prior experience in cash programming is preferred
- Combination of direct and remote management experience required
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across multiple stakeholders
- Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
- Experience working with civil society, local authorities, national and international NGOs
- Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills
- Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
- Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.