Location: One each at BHAKARI Program district (Surkhet, Dailekh, Accham, Mugu, Kalikot, & Jumla) x 6 Position Status: Full-time, Regular, till end of December (with possibility of extension)

These positions are contingent on donor approval.

Salary Level: O1

Current Team Member: N/A

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing the “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin” (BHAKARI) program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal. The program is a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area. BHAKARI builds upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response through cash transfer programming. Parallel to the emergency cash programming are emergency-prevention components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach.

General Position Summary

The Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Officer is responsible for timely implementation of CVA interventions in the BHAKARI program in close coordination with the local government and district implementing partners. The Officer is responsible for leading CVA activities at the district level supporting partners on deployment of all CVA relevant tools and process required for planning and implementation working closely with the District team. The CVA intervention includes value voucher, multipurpose cash grants, cash for work, and Shock Responsive Social Protection. These responsibilities also include supporting deployment of assessment such as household need assessment, market assessments etc. The position will also support implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction Activities whilst working closely with the DRR Focal point at the partners.
The Officer will work closely with the Emergency Response Team, District Coordinators, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team and Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) focal points. Moreover, as gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), child safeguarding, and environmental sensitivity are
crosscutting and core components of the all MC programs, the Officer is required to ensure these components are integrated into the response interventions.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Officer include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Program Implementation and Technical Support

• Support on setting up community level shocks and stress monitoring system and communicate on any contextual changes requiring emergency response
• Support local partners’ engagement and negotiation with local government, to ensure effective and timely implementation of emergency response programming, particularly digital cash and voucher programming
• Support local government to establish and strengthen system setup for cash based response as a district emergency response focal point
• Support to undertake assessments to determine most appropriate cash delivery modality/modalities for the context
• Coordinate with local government and ward representatives for selection of communities considering the effect of disaster, social and gender inclusiveness for implementation of CVA
• Coordinate with other program components for selection of integrated Cash for Work schemes, and oversee performance from community supervisors and technical person engaged in the schemes
• Plan and implement CVA activities in hard to reach areas and lies with TSPs to deploy appropriate transfer modalities
• Facilitate beneficiary registration, vendor selection, training and orientation for CVA in coordination with TSPs and MEL unit
• Ensure dignity and safety of beneficiaries during distribution activities aligned with the BHAKARI protection standards
• Contribute on developing capacity building material for different stakeholders including Local Government and implementing partners
• Participate in various Post Distribution and market monitoring surveys
• Participate in assessment, selection and training to cash and voucher participants, vendors, volunteers and distribution workers
• Working closely, support and mentor Social Mobilisers to enable them to perform CVA activities at the forefront
• Ensure all safeguarding and protection concerns are met and dealt with during the distribution process including, but not limited to safeguarding and protection mainstreaming guidelines

Monitoring, Evaluations, And Learning (MEL) And Reporting

• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to generate and collect required information and data for measuring program intervention results
• Contribute to the production of formal and informal reports of the program in a timely and efficient manner
• With the MEL team led on implementation of issue log system embedded in community monitoring and feedback mechanism
• Document learning and experience from implementation of CVA activities
• Collect case studies to support on providing evidences of outcomes from the CVA intervention
• Work with CARM to ensure community complaints for CVA are addressed and adapted into the programming
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use. Ensure filing adheres to internal protocols and is regularly maintained
• Carry out daily/weekly/monthly work plan as directed by the Emergency Response Senior Manager
• Deal with complaints and issues related to cash and voucher distribution in coordination with CARM

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps Nepal towards local partners/local government bodies and community leaders for CVA process and ensure, in collaboration with Emergency Response Team and Cluster
• Attend all relevant cluster meetings when requested
• Support ongoing coordination and representation with relevant agencies, such as government officials, I/NGOs, as appropriate
• Maintain internal coordination and works closely with BHAKARI sectoral team and wider team members and support integration within programs at district level
• Support on organizing appropriate staff meetings, workshops, planning sessions as required

Finance and Compliance Management

• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance
• In liaison with the Finance department, make sure all transactions are sent to the beneficiaries at designated areas of intervention on time
• Work closely with finance/compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities
• Support and orient on MC Code of Ethics and uphold Mercy Corps’ Zero tolerance of corruption policy Security
• Work closely with relevant field management staff to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of operating teams when implementing CVA activities
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
  

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary 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
  

Other

• Ensure proper integration of safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector specific project planning and implementation.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when a crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor, Chief of Party, and/or Country Director

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: District Coordinator in respective Districts with technical reporting to Emergency Response Cash Advisor

Works Directly with: Emergency Cash Advisor, Emergency Coordinator, BHAKARI consortium team, including implementing partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, Social Science or other relevant degree
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience in cash programming required
• Strong understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge about Cash and Voucher Assistance
• Demonstrated technical competence to lead rapid market assessments, identify and initiate setup of payment mechanisms, conduct response analysis and cash program design, develop cash SOPs designed to reduce risk and enhance quality
• Understanding of social protection and linkages between CTP and social protection systems, desirable
• Previous CVA experience in complex/emergency responses, and working with a consortium in Nepal context is preferred
• Experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders
• Experience working with international NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on development or humanitarian assistance
• Excellent oral and written English and Nepali skills required, knowledge of local languages highly preferred
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
  

Success Factors

A successful Cash and Voucher Assistance Officer will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development 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

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 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 is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Shortlisting will be done on the basis of your answers while applying, please answer the questions carefully. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.