Location: United Stated, Netherlands or UK

Valid unrestricted work authorization in the country in which you will be based is required at the time of application for this position.

Position Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt

Salary Level: The salary range for this position if based in USA is $76,000- $82,000USD, or based on local benchmark in other locations.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Department

Mercy Corps alleviates poverty, suffering, and oppression and works to build secure, productive, and just communities in over 40 countries around the world. Our Program Department supports country-led work that delivers measurable impact.

Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit (TSU) is a key part of the Program Department. TSU team members help set agency strategy and provide consultation – from assessment and design through project implementation and results measurement – to field offices worldwide, in some of the world’s toughest places. TSU team members lead research, foster organizational learning, represent Mercy Corps to external audiences, and develop partnerships. The TSU is also integral to global business development and revenue.

The Position

In 2022, Mercy Corps completed its new 2030 Global Strategy. The new strategy recognizes the role of Cash and Voucher Assistance as a critical tool to facilitate four key outcome areas for the agency: Food Security, Economic Opportunity, Water Security, and Peace and Governance. This new focus combines Mercy Corps’ historical strengths in emergency CVA programming to meet basic needs with a desire to build on the transformative power of CVA to build resilient and inclusive communities.

In close collaboration with the Cash Director, Senior CVA Advisors, country and regional teams, and other TSU members, the Cash and Voucher Assistance Senior Advisor is responsible for executing and further shaping the CVA approach inclusive of ensuring adherence to technical standards for CVA, supporting a growing research agenda, piloting and scaling innovation, and supporting overall programming.

As a CVA Senior Advisor, you will play a lead role in supporting programming to enable communities affected by crises to meet their basic needs and strengthen resilience to future crises. This role is responsible for helping country teams design, deliver, monitor, and evaluate CVA programs and for identifying opportunities and solutions for delivery in the most challenging contexts. This will involve supporting the development of country- or region-specific CVA approaches, proposals and concept notes; engaging with donors; producing influence-oriented research and writing products; and leading knowledge and capacity-strengthening initiatives. You will provide technical expertise and guidance to project teams, partners, and program participants on various aspects of CVA programming, including assessments, feasibility and appropriateness analyses, risk analysis and mitigation, operational support, setting up and adhering to CVA MEAL plans, meeting technical standards and principles, and mainstreaming safe programming, accountability, gender, and social inclusion. Additionally, you will actively contribute to policy development and advocacy initiatives related to CVA at global, regional, and national levels.

More specifically, efforts will include activities aimed at delivering against the Mercy Corps CVA approach focused on three pillars: cash at scale, digital CVA, and supporting local response systems.

Success in this role will require a deep understanding of CVA challenges and opportunities, clear understanding and experience of digital CVA (including operational solutions), along with proven experience in turning evidence and learning into practice. The successful candidate will possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and capacity-building abilities. The ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, from government agencies to private sector stakeholders to local communities, will be crucial. Moreover, the CVA Advisor should demonstrate a commitment to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability when appropriate.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and growing team dedicated to making a tangible impact for communities affected by crisis. The position offers the chance to work on complex and multifaceted projects, contribute to knowledge sharing and capacity building, and shape policies and interventions that positively impact the lives of vulnerable people and communities worldwide. If you are passionate about CVA and possess the required expertise, we invite you to apply and become part of our technical team.

Essential Job Responsibilities
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO CVA PROGRAMS

Support country teams and partners in determining the feasibility and appropriateness of cash or voucher assistance as a tool to support programming for both critical basic needs and resilience, including gather/analyze data and complete assessments to determine CVA priorities, program design, and Mercy Corps’ competitive advantage for funding during responses.
Support the development of concept notes, proposals, program guidance and tools, MEL frameworks, and other supporting documents as needed for the implementation of high quality and accountability CVA programs across MC.
Support CVA capacity strengthening in country by supporting the hiring process, selection, and onboarding of new in-country CVA staff as well as skills building and coaching of CVA staff during responses.
Manage communities of practice and capacity strengthening through one-on-one country outreach, regional calls, webinars, etc.
Work with country teams to develop CVA operations and processes, including SOPs during responses.
Actively support piloting, learning and building on successful innovations in CVA.
Support programs with preparedness for a CVA response, including framework agreements with FSPs, stakeholder discussions, and working on supporting documentation (SOPs).
Ensure adherence to the CVA minimum standards and approaches, including robust market analyses and monitoring and effective targeting.
Identify opportunities to lead our cash plus agenda, including:
Potential opportunities for alignment and strengthening government-led cash-based social protection assistance
Strengthening market systems where needed to enhance the enabling environment for HH-level CVA; this may include developing frameworks for supporting and working with traders, designing agreements, subsidies to govern specific trading items, quality, delivery timeframe and prices.
Support the identification and contracting of partners and institutions for effective and transparent cash transfer.
Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to ensure that monitoring and evaluation for the CVA is practical and reflects best practices.
Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct; Gender, Diversity and Inclusion guiding documents; Core Humanitarian Principles and Do No Harm.

MANAGEMENT

Where relevant, advocate for and contribute to drafting the scope of work and hiring CVA and markets-focused team members and technical consultants.
Support evidence-based advocacy for cash and markets staffing and capacity strengthening at the country level where relevant.

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

Coordinate effectively with peer CVA organizations and within CVA forums such as the CALP Network, Collaborative Cash Delivery (CCD) Network, IASC Cash Coordination Forum, and other spaces as relevant.
Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, private sector stakeholders, sub-grantees, donors, local governments, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
Exhibit an awareness of their own strengths and development needs.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

Contribute to and lead agreed priorities and strategic workstreams that facilitate better, more effective, timely, and accountable CVA in humanitarian crises.
Identify and work to address institutional and other barriers (internal/external) to the effective use of CVA in humanitarian crises.
Develop and consolidate learning and evidence on CVA in both humanitarian settings and as a contributor to resilience, and contribute to the body of evidence within the CVA space.
Technical leadership of the Mercy CVA digital by default approach to CVA.

SECURITY

Ensure individual/personal compliance with security procedures and policies.
Ensure a strong focus on data protection and security within all CVA programs.

Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director Cash and Voucher Assistance.

Works Directly With: Works with technical counterparts through a matrix line to the Cash Director and Humanitarian counterparts, technical support and operational unit teams, and country-based program leads.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

5+ years of experience in CVA required across multiple contexts (i.e., writing and analysis on proposal development; humanitarian assessments; CVA implementation; CVA capacity building).
At least one response assignment that demonstrates the ability to successfully adapt support and CVA assistance methodologies to real-world complexities (slow onset, rapid onset, protracted/complex crises) – required.
3+years’ experience supporting or leading digital CVA programs.
Excellent oral and written English skills required, another language, French or Spanish highly preferred.
Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Mercy Corps Core Humanitarian Competencies (as defined in the Humanitarian Capacity Framework) preferred.
Ability to work proactively and identify solutions for complex situations, works collaboratively with others and with self-awareness.

Technical competencies:

Possesses strong understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge about CVA.
Experience in setting up and managing digital CVA programs.
Can lead rapid market assessments.
Can identify and initiate setup of payment mechanisms.
Can conduct response analysis and program design (CVA related)
Can develop CVA SOPs in line with Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards

Functional competencies

Can write proposals and concept notes for funding.
Understands donor regulations and compliance (USAID/BHA, EU, FCDO, UN, etc.)
Supports the development of program strategies.
Supports team members through capacity building.
Possesses basic M&E competencies to ensure program accountability and evidence of impact.
Can identify and nurture strategic partnerships.
Is familiar with using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.
Can identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration/coordination.

Leadership Competencies

Nurtures innovation across the team.
Drives impact by building high performing teams.
Broadens influence by role-modeling and leveraging networks.

Success Factors

The CVA & Markets senior advisor will demonstrate a winning track record in program development, and bring flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm to every project they undertake. The individual must have exceptional writing skills and the ability to set priorities, pay attention to detail, and work under tight deadlines within complex team environments. Experience in emergency contexts and work experience in multiple countries and regions will be key for the success of this position.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The roving position is based ideally in a Mercy Corps HQ location or one of the country offices. It requires up to 50% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Base location requires ability to deploy within 72 hours, dependent on visa, and connectivity to enable remote work from home.