Program Manager (Cash Transfer), P-4, FT – Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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For every child, empowerment.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is the second largest country in Africa, comprising of 26 provinces; and is one of the fastest growing populations in the world, driven by a growth rate of 3.2 per cent per year. With 107 million people in 2021, Children under the age of 15 represent 48%, women 51% and adolescent share (10-19 years old) of the population currently stands at 23%.

Present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for more than 60 years, UNICEF DRC is now one of the largest UNICEF operations globally. The agency implements both humanitarian and development programmes in DRC and is increasingly following the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding “nexus approach” to ensure joined-up, coherent and mutually reinforcing interventions.

Visit our communication platforms to learn more!

• Facebook: UNICEF DRC Facebook
• Instagram: UNICEF DRC Instagram
• Twitter: UNICEF DRC Twitter
• YouTube: UNICEF DRC YouTube
• Website: UNICEF DRC Website
• Blog: Ponabana Blog

How can you make a difference?

This position will provide technical and operational guidance, coordination, and direction to the DRC Country Office to build the capacity and operational systems necessary for use of cash transfers to support humanitarian and development programming. More specifically, the position will advise any section or field office in their programmatic and operational use of cash transfers, guide the design of programme interventions utilizing cash transfer modalities, as appropriate, and represent UNICEF in Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) and other related inter-agency fora. The position will also support the office task force on cash transfers.   

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, Operations and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative, Programmes and section chiefs.

1. Technical and operational expertise and guidance to sections and field offices

• Manage UNICEF DRC Country Office Cash Transfer team in designing, implementing, and monitoring of Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCT), Cash+, Cash-Based Social Protection, and incentive payments programming.
• Work closely with UNICEF’s sections to technically and operationally lead the formulation, preparation, and implementation of cash transfer programmes across sectors, ensuring adoption of best practices and sound technical approaches in cash transfer programming.
• Coordinate Country Office internal cross-sectoral response analysis related to cash transfer programming.
• Undertake, field feasibility assessments for cash transfer programmes in close collaboration with relevant focal points in the Country Office, including social protection and colleagues from other sectors.
• Collaborate with sectoral and cross-sectoral programme officers to ensure that cash transfer programmes align with UNICEF’s country programme and its Core Principles.
• Advise and support relevant colleagues, remotely and in person, in the management and oversight of UNICEF cash transfer implementing partners in the field.
• Conduct regular operational analysis of cash transfer programmes, identify areas of poor performance, bottlenecks, and identify solutions such as design improvements, additional training and technical support.
• Work in close collaboration with programme and operations focal points to update office risk registry and risk mitigation measures related to cash transfer programming.
• Coordinate closely with financial service provider (FSP) focal points in Operations regarding daily monitoring of FSP activities and any new requirements for FSP uses.
• Provide technical oversight to the use of the HOPE platform, including direct supervision of HOPE staffs, as well as coordination of access to HOPE across sections. This will require regular interaction with the HQ HOPE team.
• In close collaboration with the M&E and IM teams, ensure the establishment and implementation of a sound monitoring and evaluation system for the cash transfer programmes, including an effective post-distribution mechanism, undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective action.
• Coordinate and support third-party monitoring agreements for cash transfer programmes, for verification of payments in close collaboration with the M&E unit and the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) focal point.
• Work in close collaboration with Programme Sections and Operations Units on complaints and feedback mechanisms; ensure relevant analysis of complaints and feedback received through different sources and ensure relevant follow up.
• Jointly with Finance staff, coordinate with FSP for developing and updating training tools.

2. Partnership and inter-agency representation

• Liaise and work closely with UN Common Cash System focal points from other agencies to identify complementarities and operational synergies.
• Represent and advocate for UNICEF strategic positions on Humanitarian cash transfers in HCT-related cash coordination forum such as the cash working group, clusters and inter-cluster.
• Provide oversight to formalization of external partnerships for cash transfer programmes, including with WFP, UNHCR, OCHA, World Bank, CaLP etc.

3. Overall coordination of Humanitarian Cash Transfer related activities

• Direct and coordinate the work of the Country Office HCT task force, prepare agenda, updates, review of progress.
• Oversee the utilization of HOPE platform in coordination with other corporate UNICEF tools to support implementation of cash transfer programming.
• Disseminate UNICEF HCT related policy, guidance and tools as well as inter-agency strategies and operational guidelines.
• Document field experience including new models of implementation, programmatic approach, joint programme, inter-agency coordination efforts.
• Liaise regularly with RO, HQ cash focal points, through established coordination mechanisms to ensure follow-up actions at the respective levels are taken.
• Lead capacity building activities, in close collaboration with RO and HA focal point, to strengthen DRC CO staffs technical capacity to use the cash transfer modality.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToRs Programme Manager (Cash Transfer), P-4, FT, Kinshasa DR Congo.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: 

• An advanced degree in business or public administration, economics, finance, social science, database management, data analytics, international development or other related field is required. A first-level university degree (i.e. Bachelor degree or equivalent) with additional two years (a total of 10 years) of relevant qualifying work experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of eight years professional work experience at national and international levels.
• Minimum five years’ experience working on the design, and implementation of cash transfer programmes in a variety of humanitarian and development settings. Experience with UNICEF is an asset.
• Strong emergency and operational field experience with UNICEF. 
• Experience in providing direct technical assistance to emergency country offices.
• Experience and or exposure to inter agency cash coordination, including with UN agencies.
• Excellent communication & presentation skills (written & verbal) across multiple audiences with the ability to influence others while working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes, in challenging environments.

Language Requirements:

Working level in French and English is required. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 a en(Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.