CASH & VOUCHER ASSISTANCE (CVA) – TECHNICAL ADVISOR, UKRAINE

  • Contractor
  • Lviv Ukraine
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Mercy Corps profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, Romania and Moldova, or trapped behind frontlines. We aim to reach 500,000 vulnerable people with multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind humanitarian support, and protection services across four countries. Almost all of our impact will be delivered in partnership: with Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine. Mercy Corps is responding to the Ukraine crisis with large-scale consortium programming with a focus on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). The Consortium is a partnership between four international humanitarian aid agencies to model and deliver innovative, effective cash and other humanitarian assistance programs to support people affected by the Ukraine crisis within Ukraine.

General Position Summary

The Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Advisor will provide technical assistance to the Ukraine Emergency Program team supporting basic needs assistance, with an emphasis on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). They will be responsible for understanding shifting contextual dynamics vis-a-vis CVA implementation inside Ukraine, while helping define and represent the vision for CVA programming writ large. This person will be the programmatic focal point working with senior counterparts in Procurement and Finance Teams to streamline cross-functional coordination between Programs and Operations Teams with a focus on cash. In coordination with cash program management personnel, this person will support MC representation in relevant coordination fora, including the Ukraine Cash Working Group and relevant Task Teams. This person will also be the technical focal point for CVA proposal development and help manage donor and partner relations at response level, alongside program management. The Advisor will create structures that support local implementing partners involved in cash distributions, will input into working modalities of the overall cash consortium, and ensure that the Response is able to utilize multiple delivery mechanisms.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM VISION & DEVELOPMENT

  • Lead on technical support to program managers and directors involved in CVA program delivery.
  • Synthesize cross-functional technical support across CVA Technology Advisor, Operations, PaQ/MEL to ensure coherence and singular vision for CVA
  • Support in developing a coherent, flexible strategy for basic needs assistance, with priority on MPCA
  • Define and promote operational solutions to multi-actor / consortium-based MPCA, in collaboration with CVA Technology Advisor and other relevant stakeholders
  • Develop strategies to integrate and influence the harmonization of CVA within the Ukraine Cash Consortium (UCC) and broader coordination architecture
  • Contribute to proposals for major donors, as needed
  • Support development of a social protection stance and alignment strategy, where appropriate

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

  • Provide support to CVA cash implementation, while ensuring coordination with various response-level departments including Operations and PaQ/MEL
  • Identify and nurture relevant partnerships, including private sector vis-a-vis evidenced needs from field
  • Support the determination and adaptation of the most appropriate cash delivery modality/modalities for the context
  • Help coordinate the harmonization of SOPs, tools, and approaches (where appropriate)
  • Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners, and consistent with Mercy Corps’ Cash Minimum Standards and other relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality
  • Support general and sector focused needs assessments (including population movements, needs assessment, market price surveys, market assessments & vendor assessments, shelter needs rehabilitation); ensure methodologies and analyses employ best practices
  • Support local associations’ capacity assessments and/or performance reviews, ensuring methodologies and documentation employ best practices vis-a-vis partnerships

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PROGRAM LEARNING

● Track key development in regulatory environment as well as donor policies / funding trends to adapt CVA programming accordingly to ensure relevancy

● Build evidence base on “good CVA practices” for Ukraine Response, via consortium partners and otherwise

STRATEGIC INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

● Develop strategic partnerships, in collaboration with Program and Technology leads, to bring viable external resources and innovations into the program

● Participate in cash coordination efforts, strengthening Mercy Corps program approach and influencing the response via these mechanisms

● Represent Mercy Corps at donor meetings for general partnership development, proposal development and presentation and status presentation of existing grants.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountabilities: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are accountable to Mercy Corps Procurement Policy and Procedures. Maintains accurate electronic and hardcopy files of procurement file and other relevant files.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports Directly To: Deputy Director of Program

Works Directly With: Program Departments, Operations / Security, Finance & Compliance, PaQ / MEL

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

  • BA/BS or equivalent is desired.
  • At least 4 years of previous related experience preferable.
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members in a cross-cultural environment is required.
  • Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
  • Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
  • English (spoken and written) is required. Ukrainian language (written and spoken) is preferred. Russian language is desirable.
  • Ability and willingness to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team and other groups of various cultural, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds in a sensitive environment.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: Ability to interact effectively with other team members, as well as with project partners, vendors and community members.
  • Ability to deal with people fairly and tactfully while not compromising Mercy Corp’s own standards and procedures.
  • Ability to conduct oneself with sensitivity and respect toward others.
  • Mentoring skills will be an asset.
  • Honest, hardworking and committed to community work.
  • Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel.
  • Willingness to travel and work.

Success Factors

The Cash Technical Advisor must demonstrate significant experience supporting the implementation and coordination of CVA programs in the field, further enhancing their ability to adjust technical theories to meet real world complexities. The individual should be able to take initiative and operate with minimal supervision. The CVA Advisor will have the proven ability to influence donors, partners, and peer organizations towards practical CVA delivery that incorporates best practices and lessons learned. They should operate as an extension of program implementation teams, with drive and initiative to contribute to field-led efforts. They will also maintain external relationships with global partners and donors as well as via various coordination platforms.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Lviv Ukraine but may change based on the situation. Living conditions are in group housing: water, electricity and internet are present. This position requires travel to surrounding countries, as security permits. Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply

https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=opWQjfwe&s=Hiring_Team


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