Cash and Livelihoods Specialist

Iraq - Region Middle East, Norwegian Refugee Council

Right Respected, People Protected

NRC in Iraq
Iraq has seen an unprecedented rise in displacement over the last several years, reaching a peak between 2014 and 2017. Of the more than 5.8 million Iraqis who fled their homes since 2014, two million remain displaced. Over four million Iraqis have returned to their area of origin. Many Iraqis have returned to areas that lack basic infrastructure, services and livelihood opportunities, or where explosive devices have not been cleared. Other challenges include: lack of security, community rejection, housing, property and civil documentation issues and lack of educational opportunities.
The UN estimates that more than 6.7 million Iraqis will need assistance in 2019, of this, those in critical need include 1.75 million people which includes both in- camp and out-of-camp IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable host communities. Humanitarian agencies are asking for 701 million USD to deliver basic assistance to these Iraqis (HRP 2019). With military operations against IS group having ended, the Iraqi government faces new challenges to ensure displaced populations return home, receive adequate services while ensuring inclusive reconstruction and reconciliation efforts that will sustain peace.
Since 2010, NRC Iraq has been assisting internally displaced Iraqis, Syrian refugees, and host communities in Ninewa, Dohuk, Erbil, Kirkuk, Basra and Anbar Governorates.
We focus on assisting the newly displaced, those in lengthy displacement in camps and those in hard-to-reach areas. In 2018, NRC scaled-up programmes across Iraq to respond to the large-scale displacements and returns, especially in Anbar governorate, around Kirkuk and in Ninewa using our water and sanitation, education, camp management, legal assistance, livelihoods, camp management, and cash activities.

Duties and responsibilities

The purpose of the Cash and Livelihoods Specialist position is technical development of the Cash and Livelihoods programme, strategic direction and quality assurance, the strategy and quality control. The Cash and Livelihoods Specialist is responsible for mentoring, train and capacity build staff ontechnical capacity. The following is a brief description of the role:

Generic responsibilities:

  • Develop CC strategy, technical guidance and Macro LFAs that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities

  • Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures

  • Contribute to fundraising, develop and revise funding proposal, budgets and donor reports

  • Identify trends technical standards and donor priorities

  • Follow up on compliance with contractual commitments within CC, ensure high technical quality and synergies in project implementation

  • Provide technical direction and project implementation support

  • Ensure that key learnings are extracted from CC implementation, and incorporate them in CC and staff development processes

  • Provide systematic training and build capacity of technical staff, in approaches including cash-based interventions and market based programme

  • Represent NRC in relevant forums/clusters, including with national authorities and donors

  • Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy

Specific responsiblities:

Knowledge, Experience & Skills that will help you succeed in this role

  • Minimum 4 years of experience within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/ recovery context
  • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
  • Knowledge and skills in market analysis, cash-based interventions and market based programmes
  • Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Knowledge of Arabic would be a plus
  • Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:
  • Knowledge of the context in Iraq would be a plus
  • Experience across both Humanitarian and Development work
  • Experience from advocacy work
  • Experience with start-up, exit or similar
  • Experience working in Economic Security and Recovery programming.
  • Experience in designing and implementing innovative market-driven income-generation activities in both urban and rural contexts.
  • Experience working with the private sector, business associations (i.e. Chamber of Commerce), financial service providers, development actors, local governments and building the capacity of these partners.
  • Experience establishing innovative partnerships with external actors.
  • Experience working with “community driven recovery & development” methodologies.
  • Experience with private sector development approaches.
  • Experience working with vulnerable groups; able to demonstrate conflict-sensitivity, compassion, discretion.
  • Background in economics, finance, and/or business administration.

Personal qualities

  • Handling insecure environments
  • Strategic thinking
  • Empowering and building trust
  • Influencing
  • Initiate action and change
  • Analysing

Additional Information

  • Contract period: 12 months-Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s salary scale and terms and conditions
  • Duty station: Erbil, Iraq, with 40% travel within Iraq
  • The position holder will be expected to travel to all areas of Iraq where NRC is operational
  • Female candidates encouraged to apply

Please download Job Description of the position here.
We will review applications on an ongoing basis, interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

We work in crises across more than 30 countries, providing emergencies and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. We stand up for people forced to flee, advocating their rights.

NORCAP is a global provider of expertise that contributes to solving challenges in the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors. Our ultimate goal is to strengthen the resilience, and protect the lives, rights and livelihoods of vulnerable people and communities

NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

This vacancy is archived.

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