Cash and Voucher Assistance Adviser At Norwegian Refugee Council

NRC Sudan has a high ambition in promoting ethical, effective, efficient, and large-scale Cash and Voucher (C&V) programming, either separately (through a ‘basic needs’ approach, e.g. multipurpose cash) or as a modality to achieve sectoral outcomes (e.g. access to scholastic materials, food consumption support in graduation programmes, behavioral change in WASH programming).

As the Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Adviser, you will play a lead role in supporting NRC Sudan’s cash transfer programming as well as any voucher-based initiatives across its core competencies (CCs), through focus on market analysis, cash transfer modalities, targeting and implementation. Specifically, you will:

Lead on the cash transfer programming (CTP) feasibility and risk assessment;
Undertake the CTP delivery mechanism assessment, providing recommendations and contingency planning to support the scale-up of cash transfer programming;
Support any cash programming advocacy strategy/plan.

You will work closely with programme management team to ensure that assistance complements and enhances the recovery and strengthening of local markets. The role will also involve coordination with the wider community and with local financial partners on the delivery mechanisms, transfer values and targeting of CTP.

You will report to the Head of Programme and work closely with all relevant CC Specialists, Programme Development Managers (PDM), and Area Managers. You will also work closely with colleagues in finance and logistics to ensure that decision making in CTPs maximizes household and community recovery for families in affected areas.

Specific responsibilities:

Strategy and Programme Development

Develop strategic frameworks that demonstrate and promote the integration cash transfer approaches with other sectors in both humanitarian and transitional programming;
With CC Specialists, identify opportunities for creative, innovative, and integrated CVA programming, including building links to financial (and economic) inclusion and social protection;
Lead on the diversification, including mapping, identification, and contracting, of financial service providers within the Sudan Country Office;
Document good practice and lessons learned in CVA in Sudan for learning purposes and for sharing with donors and the wider humanitarian community.

Technical Support, Oversight, Supervision, and Capacity Building

Oversee large-scale multi-purpose cash and e-cash programme development and operations across NRC Sudan to help displacement- and conflict-affected families meet their basic needs and where possible achieve financial inclusion;
Make recommendations and input into the design of cash and voucher-based interventions across CCs, particularly in rapid emergency response mechanism, identifying areas where action is required to ‘do no harm’ and protection mainstreaming considerations;
Lead on ensuring the availability of current, relevant, and detailed market information in coordination with CC Specialists/ PDMs and/or other external stakeholders – ensuring surveillance and assessment findings are documented and shared;
With Digital PDM and finance teams, manage relationships with financial service providers and mobile network operators, and relevant private sector, to deliver efficient and large-scale CVA operations;
With Logistics Manager and CC Specialists/ PDMs, manage Type 1 market analysis, market price monitoring, information management, and monitoring systems. In doing so, identify and/or develop “use market” type of market-based approach programming opportunities for NRC Sudan to achieve CC outcomes.
Work with finance colleagues to ensure appropriate and accountable modalities of cash transfer are in place and that these approaches are adapted, as needed;
With Risk and Compliance, finance, and logistics teams undertake fraud risk analysis and embed mitigation actions within SOPs and relevant systems and procedures.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Work closely with the M&E team to support the development of accountability activities for CVAs, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design and implementation;
Monitor the scale and scope of CVA across all Core Competencies via GORS, Agresso, and other NRC systems to measure achievement of country ambitions in CVA;
Work closely with the M&E team to develop a market and evaluation plan for market impact, ensuring that this captures price information and supply for all relevant CCs and build capacity of technical field staff in carrying out the work.

Coordination and Representation

Represent NRC Sudan in relevant working groups, including the Cash Working Group, and support advisory and advocacy efforts for the broader humanitarian sector in Sudan to adopt CVA in strategies and plans;
Liaise and coordinate with UN and I/NGO partners, local authorities, and beneficiaries in planning and overseeing CVA programming and contextual understanding of areas of operations;
Identify and build strategic relations with partners for implementation, research, and resource mobilization for CVA in Sudan.

For more information on the role, click this job description

Generic professional competencies:

At least five years in a humanitarian programming environment, including three years’ experience in a senior level project management position;
Advanced knowledge and skills in designing and implementing CVA. This includes experience in planning, organizing, and implementing market place assessments and financial service provider mapping and analysis;
Experience in institutionalizing CVA and addressing structural barriers to CVA adoption;
Knowledge and experience in developing and facilitating trainings in market assessments, market based approaches, and cash and voucher assistance;
Fluency in English, both written and verbal;
Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, including strong skills in Excel.

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts (experience in contexts with high levels of inflation would be desirable);
Knowledge of the context in Sudan;
Arabic language skills is an advantage;
Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style;
Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing diverse workload;
Proven ability to work effectively across cultures, in sensitive environments and with stakeholders at all levels.

What We Offer

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC, we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative