Cash and Basic Needs Officer

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and gain control of their future. The IRC is working to improve the safety, health, education, economic well-being and power of people in crisis affected places. IRC’s Economic Recovery and Development programming ensures that clients meet both their short- and long-term economic needs through sustainable and ethical programs such as, but not limited to, cash and voucher transfers, food security promotion, climate-smart agro-pastoral production and enterprise development and employment promotion.

More than 3.6 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 Ukrainians are reported to be displaced. As the vast majority of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.

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 an emergency response, and have identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across Ukraine and Poland to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

This position will be based in Warsaw, with occasional travel to other locations as necessary.

JOB SUMMARY

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

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES:

Under the supervision of the CBN Manager, the CBN Officer will be responsible for:

• Effective implementation of basic needs assistance, including Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA)
• Supporting partner organization and staff with implementation of similar projects.
• Ensuring the proper follow up and close-out of the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) scale up project.
• Supporting the CBN Manager with the design and roll-out of new MPCA projects targeting different groups.
• Ensuring that gender, protection, and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in all programming under direct responsibility.
• Supporting the CBN Manager in proper documentation, including the use of appropriate technology platforms, for client data and distribution information, per SOPs and Data Protection regulations.
• Identifying Ukrainian / Polish / Russian language resources, screen for quality / consistency with comparable IRC standards or approaches, and compile in technical resource library.
• Providing translation and interpretation support to program team (verbal and written).
• Supporting the CBN Manager in engagement with various interagency coordination forum including Cash Working Groups and identification of strategic partnerships aligned with IRC approach

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Quality and implementation

• Support the CBN 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)
• 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 for within their projects.

Partnerships and Representation

• 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.

Management

• Manage team members, volunteers, and translators 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/or up-keep strong databases for client data and other programmatic information.
• Support written program evaluations and reviews ensure documentation of lessons learned informing reporting and program development.
• Support the Client Responsiveness Officers in addressing feedback from clients and partners for CVA programming.

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.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Cash and Basic Needs Manager. Position directly supervises: community mobilisers/daily workers.
• Works closely with:
• Internal: Other ERD team members, IRC Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) staff, Finance, Supply Chain.
• External: IRC’s partner organizations, local municipalities and CSOs, and other community stakeholders; other practitioners in the field as needed.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

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

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• At least 1 year of relevant work experience in cash and voucher assistance, social protection, project management/administration or other humanitarian and development programmes.
• Knowledge and experience in implementing humanitarian or development projects, especially in conflict contexts is preferred.
• Fluency in English required, Polish and/or Ukrainian strongly preferred.
• 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
• Demonstrated dedication to an anti-racist and Do No Harm approach, gender equality and inclusion

Female candidates are highly encouraged

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.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.