FAO recruits 01 National Cash Transfer Specialist

Job Description – National Cash Transfer Specialist (2001115)

Job Description: 2001115

National Cash Transfer Specialist

Closure Date: 26/May/2020, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: FRETH

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Ethiopia-Addis Ababa

Duration: 11 months (initially 6 months probation with possibility of extension based on performance)

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

 Organizational Setting

 The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programs and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been implementing development and emergency response programming in Ethiopia for the last decades. Currently, FAO has implemented food security interventions by means of cash transfer programmes in several regions of Ethiopia. FAO has engaged in a wide range of Cash-Based Transfer- CBT (voucher schemes for agricultural inputs, input trade fairs, cash-for-work, conditional and unconditional cash transfers and Cash+). FAO specializes in cash transfer programs that promote agricultural production and food security and increase farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists’ resilience to natural shocks.

FAO intends to scale up the size and the scope of its CBT interventions in Ethiopia to address specific crises (desert locust) and longer-term recovery and development challenges. Therefore, FAO is seeking to recruit a National Cash Transfer Specialist. The terms of Reference for this specialist are developed below.

Reporting Lines

 The position is under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Ethiopia, the direct supervision of the FAO Social Policy (social protection and Resilience Officer, to whom the specialist will report.

Technical Focus

 The incumbent will provide technical and operational support to ensure proper implementation of cash based transfer interventions in FAO Ethiopia to address specific crises like desert locus and longer term recovery and development challenges.

Tasks and responsibilities

 Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of the Social  Protection and Resilience officer, the specialist will:

Contribute towards the development of a range of Cash based transfer (CBT)  plans and processes aligned with FAO programmes in Ethiopia;

Provide management support to specific CBT activities ensuring a coordinated approach with corporate programmes in compliance with FAO standards and procedures;

Conduct beneficiary needs assessments in targeted areas designed to provide timely reports to inform programme design;

Undertake market assessments to assess the feasibility of cash transfer programmes in selected regions of Ethiopia including Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, SSNP, and Tigray regions;

Undertake the assessment of financial service providers (FSP) designed to determine the presence in targeted areas of FSP able to disburse money in a secure, cost-efficient and timely way;

Liaise with FAO HQ – CSF – GMFU  for guidance on methodology for the  assessment of the Financial Service Providers and obtain approval on those selected for Ethiopia

Coordinate and communicate with local partners, NGOs and regional government to carry out analyses and to ensure efficient delivery of FAO CBT activities;

In collaboration with the M&E officer contribute to data gathering and monitoring systems ensuring that rigorous standards are maintained;

Attain good knowledge of FAO CBT policies as well as guidelines, and other corporate tools used to implement CBT activities;

Keep up to date and advise on food insecurity developments in selected regions that may potentially affect upcoming FAO interventions to enable timely and appropriate programmatic changes;

Set up an accountability mechanism through which beneficiaries can provide feedback to FAO regarding the assistance they received

Liaise as needed with the FAO CBT team in Headquarters;

Attend Cash Working Group meetings in Addis Ababa;

Perform other relevant duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

 Candidates should be nationals of Ethiopia

University degree in Rural Development, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or other field of relevance to international development assistance

Minimum of five years of experience of working in different aspects of humanitarian and development topics relevant to cash programming with at least three years specifically on cash and voucher programming preferably for food security in humanitarian crises

Working knowledge English and the most widely used local language.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

 Good understanding of key concepts and application of food security and safety net programmes

Good understanding of CBT programming and specifically of the different transfer modalities used by FAO in its programmes: unconditional/conditional cash transfers, cash-for-work and vouchers as well as proven experience in assessing, designing, implementing and monitoring (CBT) programmes

Strong analytical skills for data collection, analysis, evidence generation and reporting

Good communication skills, ability to convey complex information

Solid knowledge of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) is desirable

Previous experience working with UN agencies and International organisations/ NGOs  is desirable

Strong English communication skills, both written and oral

Fluency in other Ethiopian languages is desirable

High level of computer literacy in MS office applications and other relevant software applications

Selection Criteria

Extent and relevance of experience and  knowledge of cash and voucher programming preferably for food security in humanitarian crises;

Extent and relevance knowledge on key concepts and application of food security and safety net programmes;

Familiarity to work with UN agencies, Government and other partners;

Ability to work under pressure and willingness to travel frequently to rural areas of Ethiopia;

High proficiency in written and oral English

Fluency in other Ethiopian languages is desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted

Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications

For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

HOW TO APPLY

 Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org 

 FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT