Senior Cash & Basic Needs Officer

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The Ukraine crisis could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades. More than 5.3 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million people are reported to be displaced. Reports indicate almost all arrivals in Poland are women and children, including those that are unaccompanied and separated, as well as older persons.

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighboring Poland.  As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to emergency response, and has identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC has established operations across Ukraine and Poland offering a robust humanitarian response to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

JOB SUMMARY

IRC seeks a dynamic program implementor to fill the role of Senior Cash and Basic Needs Officer. The Senior Cash & Basic Needs (CBN) Officer will lead and support day to day implementation of cash and basic needs programming assistance including Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in Poland.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Cash & Basic Needs Manager, the Senior Cash and Basic Needs Officer will be responsible for:

•         Effective implementation of basic needs assistance, including Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA)

•         Supporting the CBN Manager with the design and roll-out of new CVA/MPCA projects targeting different groups.

•         Leading the implementation process of one or more CVA projects.

•         Ensuring that gender, protection, and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.

•         Supporting the CBN Manager with various interagency coordination forum including Cash Working Group and Basic Needs Working Group

•         Leading the learning processes to improve the quality of long-term programming

•         Lead collaboration with partners on program implementation as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Quality and Implementation

•         Collaborate with the Cash and Basic Needs Manager to design, facilitate, and analyze rapid needs assessment, market assessments, cash feasibility assessments, Financial Service Provider/vendor mapping, and any others as identified during the response (directly or in partnership)

•         Collaborate with the Cash and Basic Needs Manager to design various program tools.

•         Lead the implementation of one or more CVA projects.

•         Adjust and adhere to detailed implementation plans to ensure program implementation is on time, with target goals and budget management, using effective monitoring & evaluation systems and adaptive management principles to reach desired impacts

•         Raise program purchase requests and provide other administrative support as needed

•         Alongside the CBN Manager, support other ERD and Program teams in quality CVA implementation within their projects.

Partnerships and Representation

•         Identify and secure partnerships based on existing networks to increase access to clients and community-based organizations for IRC or IRC-partnered services

•         Manage partner relations to ensure compliance with IRC standards, meet project milestones, and troubleshoot issues as needed

•         Provide support to implementing partners as needed and determined by them and the CBN Manager, including trainings, data management support and other operational support for their programs.

•         Represent the IRC at events and inter-agency coordination as identified by the ERD Coordinator or Cash & Basic Needs Manager

Management

•         Manage team members, volunteers, and translators, including working with HR on recruitment, and performance management as needed.

•         Deliver capacity-building sessions to partners/ new team members and community mobilizers as needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

•         Ensure proper data collection and information management systems are used for projects in-line with MEAL support.

•         Establish and maintain strong databases for client data and other programmatic information.

•         Support written program evaluations and to reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.

•         Support the CBN Manager and Client Responsiveness Officers in addressing feedback from clients and partners

•         Highlight the main risks associated with MEAL while implementing the programs and document them along with the followed/recommended mitigation measures to enhance the quality of the program.

Professional Standards

•         Complete other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

•         Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: minimum university degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or Humanitarian Response preferred.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

•         At least 2 years of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, livelihoods, social protection, and/or other humanitarian and development programmes with demonstrated experience in both direct implementation and working with partners.

•         Knowledge and experience in implementing humanitarian or development projects, especially in emergency/ecp contexts.

•         Fluency in English, Polish and/or Ukrainian would be an asset.

•         Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.

•         Willingness to travel to different cities within Poland

•         Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook

•         Proven data management/data analysis experience

•         Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion

Must have right to work in Poland.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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