Cash and Vouchers Assistance (CVA) Delegate – Bosnia and Herzegovina – International Position At International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Central Asia, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations, country delegations and country offices throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. In late 2021, a new Country Cluster Delegation was established in Sarajevo to implement in practice IFRC’s vision of the Agenda for Renewal in the covered 8 countries. The Central & South-Eastern Europe Country Cluster works with the National Societies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. In February 2022, a new phase in the armed conflict in Ukraine started. Millions of people are displaced in Ukraine, while more than five million people have fled to other countries. IFRC has launched a major Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and Impacted Countries that is coordinated at the European regional level – with numerous country level operations ongoing. All 8 countries covered by the Central & South-Eastern Europe (CSEE) cluster office are impacted, yet at very different scales, by the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and resulting outflow of refugees. IFRC supports these countries from its cluster delegation in Sarajevo. Given the scale of operations; IFRC is present in Romania with dedicated country staff (including for CVA) and in Bulgaria with 1 Operations Manager. The Romania operation has been leading the Federation’s cash programming. Going forward, 1 CVA Preparedness Delegate will be based in Romania to assist Romanian Red Cross and Bulgarian Red Cross. The present job description is for another CVA Delegate to cover the other countries in the cluster.

Job Purpose

The CVA Delegate in CSEE CCD, is responsible for implementing the CVA interventions developed with the National Societies (NSs) engaged in the response to the crisis in Ukraine and resulting refugee populations. Initial cash support is designed to help meet the immediate and basic needs of identified vulnerable people arriving in the countries while to support the affected population through long term sectoral interventions with CVA. The incumbent will focus on providing technical support to the Red Cross Societies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Support to Romanian Red Cross and Bulgarian Red Cross will only be on an ad hoc and needs basis, as there will be a fulltime delegate available to support those two National Societies.

The CVA Delegate is responsible for overseeing the operationalization of the CVA component of the Emergency Appeal, on-going management, and ensuring that set objectives are met through the effective and efficient implementation of resources.

This position will liaise with key stakeholders, both within and outside the Movement, including UN/INGOs, and Government and financial institutions to ensure successful project implementation and positioning of RCRCM.

The role focuses on providing practical technical support and quality assurance of CVA initiatives undertaken by the NSs. Special attention will be provided to monitoring, coordination and mainstreaming RCRC Movement cash and market approaches, guidance, tools across operations in these NSs by following IFRC CVA SOPs, CVA Preparedness for Effective Response Guidance, and Procurement Manual.

The position will report to IFRC CVA team in Budapest for technical matters, guidance and support.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Support and Quality Assurance

Support the implementation of CVA interventions undertaken by IFRC and NSs engaged in Ukraine Crisis response, within the Cluster.
Ensure the provision of high-quality CVA technical support to NS emergency response operations in-country, assisting in all stages (preparedness, assessment, analysis, design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation), in line with international, RCRC Movement and IFRC standards, guidelines and good practice.
Identify the initial CVA specific capacity and gaps in NSs to implement a CVA response and provide relevant trainings on CVA and markets as required. Propose and implement cash preparedness activities, as required.
Support technical quality assurance in all documents, including Plan of Action and budget, Operations Updates, Sitreps and other relevant documents.
Ensure implementation follows the approved operational work plan, delivery mechanisms are properly established, and selection and distribution mechanisms follow agreed CVA guidelines, procedures, and SOPs.
Ensure Community Engagement and Accountability systems are in place and are in line with established communication strategies of the operation.
Ensure that appropriate feedback mechanisms meet the needs and regular updates are collected and reflected in all the relevant reports, as well as share with the wider CVA team.
Support the setting up and implementation of M&E framework to ensure quality programming and to establish appropriate monitoring systems that accurately track targeted population, disbursement, and reconciliation.
Support NSs to plan an appropriate scale up of CVA interventions based on the results of the phase 1, capacity of the NS and available funding.
Maintain the updated informed on cash disbursement done by the NSs to the affected population in the Cluster.
Support in producing accurate monthly reports of cash disbursements and utilization using a secure system of accountability and control, ensuring beneficiary data management and protection.
Support post distribution monitoring and markets monitoring to understand use and impact of cash provided along with levels of recipient satisfaction. Provide recommendations for future improvement.
Undertake staff and volunteer orientation on CVA providing training as required. Develop and lead trainings and other initiatives to build the capacity of volunteers, NS and IFRC staff in CVA. Adopt training materials and conduct or facilitate trainings, drawing on existing resources within the RCRC Movement, CashHub and CALP Network.
Work closely with other CVA Delegates in ROE and in Romania/Bulgaria to ensure coordinated technical support on CVA is provided to the NSs in the Cluster.
Support the customization of tools and templates, and standardization of CVA responses. Support the roll out of these tools across all NSs engaged in the Ukraine Crisis response, within the Cluster.

Cash and Voucher Assistance Preparedness (CVAP)

Provide technical support to the NSs to effectively plan, design, implement, manage and evaluate cash preparedness projects and initiatives.
Be responsible for coordinating the roll out of RC/RC Movement CVA preparedness framework, tools, procedures and advocacy activities contributing to CVA institutionalization and preparedness enabling both NSs and IFRC to scale up humanitarian CVA responses.
Carry out CVA delivery mechanism assessment. Ensure that the NSs have identified and signed agreements appropriate and cost-efficient financial services providers for CVA scale up for any CVA intervention in future.
Support the development of knowledge products and marketing material and ensure the dissemination of those through ROE and/or Cash-Hub.
Undertake staff and volunteer orientation on CVA providing training as required. Develop and lead trainings and other initiatives to build the capacity of volunteers, NS and IFRC staff in CVA in both countries. Adopt training materials and conduct or facilitate trainings, drawing on existing resources within the RCRC Movement, CashHub and CALP Network.
Deliver capacity building initiatives such as conducting face-to-face trainings, learning by doing exercises, simulations, pilots, and remote/face-to-face coaching.

RC/RC Movement CVA Coordination

Support the NSs to coordinate and co-chair the CVA Working Groups in their respective countries.
Support the participation of the NSs in the Community of Practice established for the region/Cluster.
Work closely with other CVA delegates in ROE and in Central & South-Eastern Europe (CSEE) to ensure coordinated and coherent technical support is provided to the NSs.
Participate in any global or regional technical working groups when and if necessary and when advised by CVA team in ROE and/or CCSE.

General

Work closely with NS CVA counterparts and other IFRC staff to promote technical CVA awareness, capacity, delivery, and learning. Coordinate CVA teamwork as required to provide support to senior colleagues, ensuring that CVA programs and project objectives are met.
Represent IFRC and NSs in external cash and markets coordination structures and initiatives.
Be responsible for creating Movement CVA working group within the Cluster by bringing all relevant Movement Partners together.
Create Community of Practice for all NSs in the Cluster either implementing or interested in CVA programming.
Participate in internal and external CVA meetings and contribute to technical, coordination and advocacy initiatives within the RC/RC Movement and with other partners, the wider humanitarian community, donors and public sector in both countries.
Support the development and documentation of learning, reviews, evaluations and case studies; with focus on CVA operational and programmatic challenges, use of CVA in wide range of humanitarian contexts, lessons learned; good practices and recommendations that can be applied in the future.
Create Community of Practice for the Cluster.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals. 2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles. 3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Position Requirements

Education

Relevant university degree or equivalent knowledge – required
Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge – required
Practical Cash in Emergencies Training (PECT) – required

Experience

Demonstrated experience of successfully implementing and coordinating medium / large-scale humanitarian emergency response operations that include CVA, preferably with the RC/RC Movement – required
At least 3-5 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff – required
Prior experience of working on regional or headquarters level – preferred
Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially in population movements context – required
Knowledge of and experience with RC/RC National Societies and ICRC – required
Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring, and evaluation – required
Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context – preferred

Knowledge and skills

Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically and under pressure, without access to complete information – required
Effective team and project management skills – required
Good analytical skills and solution-oriented – required
Good mentoring and capacity development skills – required
Ability to work well in a multicultural team – required
Excellent stress management skills – required
Demonstrated accountability – required
Technical and professional knowledge of various areas of CVA in humanitarian and/or development contexts, with an emphasis on the ability to design, implement, and monitor cash delivery responses, in an inclusive manner and in a variety of contexts – required

Languages

Fluent spoken and written English – required Good command of languages spoken in the Balkans / South-Eastern Europe – preferred Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) – preferred

Values