Technical Advisor I – Cash and Markets

  • Contractor
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Catholic Relief Services profile




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


Catholic Relief Services

Job Title: Technical Advisor I – Cash and Markets

Reports to: Technical Advisor II – Cash and Markets

Department: Humanitarian Response Department (HRD)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Note: This is a Telecommuting position.

Job Summary:

You will provide technical advice and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in the area of Cash and Markets in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams and partners to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable impacted by humanitarian crises. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Cash and Market-based programming is across the globe, with a particular focus on supporting programs in the East Africa region.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

  • Support the development and contribute to the implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools and best practices in relation to Cash and Market Based Programming that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
  • Provide technical solutions to CP teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools and M&E, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.
  • Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the technical design for proposals. Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of project concepts and full-fledged proposals. As needed, act as a technical writer on proposal development teams. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
  • Support capacity strengthening initiatives in relation to Cash and Market based programming for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching.
  • Collect and analyze program data, capture and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to the Cash and Market Based Programming learning agenda.
  • Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions, participate in forums in the area of Cash and Market Based Programming to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work, with a particular focus on the East Africa region.
  • Support Country Programs and partners in strengthening their cash readiness through targeted technical support, particularly in relation to developing capacities, identifying suitable cash delivery mechanisms and Financial Service Providers (FSPs), developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, and supporting the design and implementation of pilot cash programs.
  • Engage proactively within the East Africa region at the country and regional level to identify strategic priorities related to CRS and partner cash programming in humanitarian and early recovery settings, and support the region to improve the quality and scale of cash programming as part of CRS’ Vision 2030 agency-wide strategy.

Required Languages– English required, other languages relevant to the East Africa region preferred.

Travel– Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%, including at short notice and to emergency situations mainly in the East Africa region, but also elsewhere

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
  • Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
  • Good technical writing skills
  • Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
  • Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: HRD Cash and Markets TAs; HRD Regional Focal Point for EARO for Program Quality and Management; other HRD Technical Advisors (e.g. Program Quality and Management, Shelter and Settlement, Safe and Dignified Programming, Operations, and WASH); Regional Technical Advisors including Agriculture and Livelihoods; Country Program staff

External: Partners; donors; peer agencies

Basic Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in humanitarian assistance, social policy, economics or related field required.
  • Minimum of three years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of two years relevant field-based experience in cash and market-based programming, including in protracted and rapid onset emergency contexts.
  • Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in cash and market-based programming. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
  • Experience in project design for cash programming in a diversity of contexts.
  • Experience in proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
  • Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
  • Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis.
  • Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience in designing Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) programs, particularly for BHA, and designing and implementing cash programs related to Food Security, Nutrition, and/or Protection. Experience in other sectoral cash programming, such as Shelter and Settlements, and WASH, desirable.
  • Knowledge of, and experience in, conducting market assessments and response analysis to inform modality decisions across different areas of programming, particularly in humanitarian contexts.
  • Experience supporting cash programming in the East Africa region, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and/or Sudan strongly preferred.
  • Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

· Integrity

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Strategic Mindset

· Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

To ensure the safety of our staff, our partners, and the people we serve, CRS requires that staff be vaccinated against Covid-19. CRS complies with all federal and state laws to allow for accommodations, as needed with supporting documentation. However, accommodations may limit the roles that candidates are eligible for based on role requirements (e.g., travel, meetings with staff, partner, donors).

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

How to apply

https://crs.taleo.net/careersection/ex_crs/jobdetail.ftl?job=220000GY&lang=en&sns_id=link#.YqeoZrzohl4.link


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