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Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps’ Sudan crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Sudanese and other conflict-affected people across the country. Mercy Corps Sudan is recognized as a leader in market systems, agricultural, and food security and building on this experience, the MC Sudan humanitarian program will layer in resilience and other program activities where appropriate and feasible to do so. Mercy Corps is scaling up to reach upwards of 200,000 conflict affected people with multi-purpose cash assistance, targeted voucher programs, in-kind and services provision across the country. Our impact will be delivered with a focus on needs, in partnership with local actors and civil society, and embrace the safe, appropriate, and accountable use of digital systems and technologies to support the response.
The Position
The Cash and Voucher Technical Assistance (CVA) Advisor will provide technical assistance to the Sudan program and operations teams supporting access basic needs assistance, with an emphasis on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), and agricultural and food security programming, with a focus on vouchers and cash grants. They will be responsible for understanding shifting contextual dynamics vis-a-vis CVA implementation inside Sudan, while helping define and represent the vision for CVA programming writ large. Given the complexities of the financial sector within the context, the position will have a strong focus on assessing, advising on, and supporting procurement process for financial service provider (FSP) contracting and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support the use of different FSPs and cash delivery mechanisms.
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 and vouchers. In coordination with cash program management personnel, this person will represent Mercy Corps within the Cash Working Group Forum (with a potential to act as co-lead for the cash working group) and other external spaces. 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 and voucher distributions, will input into working modalities of the overall cash consortium, facilitate a focus on data protection and safe programming in CVA, and ensure that the Response is able to utilize multiple delivery mechanisms.
Essential Job Responsibilities
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Lead end-to-end proposal development process on CVA programs, working closely with cross-functional teams to gather information, develop compelling content, and produce high-quality proposals.
Lead on technical support to operations, program managers and directors involved in CVA program delivery.
Synthesize and harmonize 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 strategies for the use of CVA as a tool to support basic needs, with priority on MPCA, agricultural, food security, and market systems.
Define and promote operational solutions for MPCA and other cash modalities in collaboration with Digital CVA Senior Advisor and other relevant stakeholders
Develop strategies to integrate and influence the harmonization of CVA within Sudan
Contribute to proposals for major donors, as needed
Support development of a approach to partnerships and CVA in the response, where appropriate
MANAGEMENT
Contribute to drafting scope of work/hiring CVA-focused team members and technical consultants
Support evidence based advocacy for cash staffing and capacity strengthening at the country level where relevant.
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
Develop and lead the harmonization of SOPs, tools, and approaches (where appropriate)
Ensure that program implementation is centered around communities, 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
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 the Sudan 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.
Supervisory Responsibility: CVA Specialist
Reports Directly To: Deputy Director of Programs - Emergencies
Works Directly With: Program Departments, Operations / Security, Finance & Compliance, PaQ / MEL
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
5+ years of experience in CVA required (i.e. writing and analysis on proposal development; humanitarian assessments; CVA implementation; CVA capacity building);
at least one response assignment that demonstrates the ability to successfully adapt support and assistance methodologies to real-world complexities (slow onset, rapid onset, protracted/complex crises) - required
BA/BS or equivalent in Humanitarian Affairs, International Development, Economics or other relevant field; MA/S preferred.
Excellent oral and written English skills required
Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Mercy Corps Core Humanitarian Competencies (as defined in the Humanitarian Capacity Framework) preferred.
Technical competencies:
Possesses strong understanding of theoretical and applied knowledge about CVA
Knows and applies Mercy Corps’ CVA minimum standards
Understanding of digital cash delivery mechanisms
Experience in FSP scoping, mapping, and contract management
Can lead rapid market assessments
Can identify and initiate setup of payment mechanisms
Can conduct response analysis and program design (CVA related)
Is able to develop CVA SOPs in line with Mercy Corps’ Minimum Standards
Functional competencies
Can write proposals and concept notes for funding
Understands donor regulations and compliance (USAID, EU, FCDO, UN, etc.)
Supports the development of program strategies
Supports team members through capacity building
Possesses basic M&E competencies to ensure program accountability and evidence of impact
Can identify and nurture strategic partnerships
Is familiar with using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking
Can identify and leverage opportunities for collaboration/coordination
Leadership competencies
Can effectively participate in external discussions and leadership spaces (such as the CWG and donor discussions)
Nurtures innovation across the team
Drives impact by building high performing teams
Broadens influence by role-modeling and leveraging networks
Success Factors
The CVA technical advisor will demonstrate a winning track record in program development, and bring flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm to every project they undertake. The individual must have exceptional writing skills and the ability to set priorities, pay attention to detail, and work under tight deadlines within complex team environments. Experience in emergency contexts will be key for the success of this position.
The advisor must take an active role in building and maintaining external relationships as well as demonstrating the drive and initiative to contribute to internal team efforts. The individual must learn quickly how to provide technical data and support in the most efficient and effective form possible. The position requires strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and a level of emotional intelligence proficiency that quickly builds and maintains productive relationships across teams.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya until visas are possible, then will be relocated to Port Sudan, Sudan, with regular travel to Nairobi, Kenya. Mercy Corps Sudan program activities may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in shared housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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