Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Coordinator at Save The Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

To lead the implementation of the Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) component of the USAID/BHA funded humanitarian project - Multi-sector, Lifesaving Humanitarian Response in Yobe, Nigeria. More specifically, the CVA Coordinator will work closely with the BHA Program Manager and CVA Officers to ensure that project deliverables are met on time and within acceptable quality standards. S/he will be responsible for the implementation of the CVA components of the project including MPCA, Supplementary Nutritional Assistance, WASH NFI, Agriculture and ERMS. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY/DELIVERABLES:

Reporting

• The CVA Coordinator will oversee the planning and implementation to ensure the timely delivery of CVA activities, including MPCA, Vouchers for Supplementary Nutrition Assistance and WASH NFIs, across BHA project locations. Oversee planning and implementation to ensure timely delivery of MPCA activities across BHA project locations.
• Oversee delivery of CVA activities throughout the programme, identifying and helping to ensure the resolution of any problems.
• Supervise the CVA team to strengthen the effectiveness and timely implementation of activities.
• Prepare timely program and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
• With support from the Monitoring & Evaluation team put in place an M & E plan for the project, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work.
• With support from the Accountability lead put in place accountability activities for the project, ensuring that feedback from children and their families and the community as a whole is considered in project design.
• With support from community mobilization, ensure effective and efficient information sharing to relevant stakeholders and continuous program sensitization.
• Work closely with partners and their staff to ensure project activities are implemented on time and within the stipulated quality.
• Keep an eye on ensuring how the cash transfers can best be taken up by the State government beyond the end of the project.
• Contribute to regular and timeline monitoring and reporting as required and ensure that key programme lessons are captured and shared with colleagues.
• She/He will provide support to the field-based team on report writing and develop the capacity of staff for donor-level writing. 
• Coordinate with the BHA Program Manager to ensure timely situational reports, in addition to the provision of a weekly update on programme activities.
• Provide other communications and information materials on the response as requested.
• Ensure that budget-monitoring reports for the programmes are responded to in time and with the correct information. 

Budget Tracking

• The CVA Coordinator will take responsibility for consistent monitoring of sector budget and transaction listings to track project performance and flag challenges that impact burn rates.
• She/He will coordinate closely with the BHA Manager to ensure tracking of spending and pipelines at the supply chain and finance.
• Support with identifying and communicating recharges and reclasses to the Finance team to ensure sector burn rates meet finance KPI and donor compliance.

Support proposal development

• Work closely with the BHA program Manager and business development colleagues to identify, support and pursue funding opportunities that allow for both integrations into broader programs and standalone Cash and voucher programs/projects; engage with technical partners, donors, and colleagues across Save the Children; and develop of high-quality concept notes and proposals.
• Lead the technical scoping, planning, and design and proposal writing during new programme development, and ensure that we design and deliver high-quality Cash and Voucher programmes for children, building on global best practices. Ensure that gender, disability, and resilience considerations are reflected in our programme design and implementation.

Programme Management Support

• Provide oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g., Save the Children Common Approaches); and are likely to achieve scale, as well as equitable and sustainable results.
• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) teams to establish a sector M & E plan, carry out the gender and power analysis, and conduct quality monitoring against international standards through participatory methodologies that promote gender equality and social justice (including child-friendly and gender-sensitive/transformative methodologies); ensure links to reporting requirements, contribute to communications and media work, and ensure that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design.
• Undertake field visits to project sites; work with implementation teams to understand impacts, operational challenges, and continuously identify opportunities for learning and improvement; and ensure timely delivery of programme activities (for example, monitoring against log frames, individual performance management work plans).
• Ensure that field teams are aware of and implementing with agreed M&E tools and the management team can monitor, review, and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of programming.
• Work with the Program Manager to ensure actions agreed by the response team are effectively tracked and followed up. 
• Ensure with the cooperation of the in-country sector leads that infrastructure scheduling is coordinated and integrated with Education, Child Protection, and Health programme planning as appropriate.
• Work with Child Rights Governance colleagues to ensure that a rights-based approach is reflected in our programme design and implementation (in line with our child rights programming approach), with a strong focus on child participation and safeguarding.
• Working closely with the HR team, identifying CVA staffing needs for the BHA programme, and ensuring rapid recruitment, induction, and training of all technical field staff in carrying out the work.
• Work with Supply Chain to develop an appropriate phased procurement plan.
• Contribute towards the creation of an organizational learning culture that promotes the use of disaggregated data, evidence, and analysis (including gender and power analysis) and understands its link to quality and accountable programming; Contribute to strengthening the use of equality-focused programme principles and good practice across themes and sectors.

Knowledge Management

• Support teams in developing accessible and usable documents to support future proposal developments or capacity building of teams.
• Develop emergency preparedness plans and conduct sectoral assessments (including gender analysis and disability situation analysis using SC assessment processes and tools) and design and deliver an emergency response and recovery programmes. Monitor trends to ensure early action and lead technical design and implementation and technical coordination of humanitarian responses. Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Ensures effectiveness of how teams are sharing and storing documents so that documentation is compliant with donor requirements and internal guidance. Also, ensuring that teams are maintaining their team filing requirements.  
• Conduct training for staff and partners in knowledge management. 
• Provides oral and written responses and briefings for queries by staff and managers and by external stakeholders that are accurate and appropriate.
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices concerning child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Contributes to knowledge management by supporting the documentation of best practices and sharing across field offices.
• Representation and coordination within the organization and other stakeholders
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the Cash and Voucher working group and related coordination platforms.
• Document and communicate program implementation experience and lessons learned to support coordination and learning efforts. 
• Act as the focal point for CVA specific member and VIP visits, ensuring that schedules are drafted and shared to maximize the time available during high profile visits and ensure that coordination and detail sharing are completed.
• Provide support to other BHA sectors as directed by your line manager.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the shelter team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition: 

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their personal development, and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares their vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated and thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential 

• Postgraduate qualification in social policy, social science, international development, economics, or related relevant discipline
• At least a first Degree/HND in a relevant course
• Minimum of 3 years post NYSC relevant work experience.
• Prior experience in helping deliver cash transfer programmes at scale.
• Good knowledge of cash and voucher assistance, the key principles, and debates.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to write clear and well-argued project and assessment reports.
• Excellent time management skills, and ability to organize multiple and competing priorities.
• Excellent project management skills including very good budget management skills.
• Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands-on implementation capacity.
• Experience in preparing successful funding proposals for donors.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. A good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in the Northeast region/context.
• Experience implementing integrated Cash and Voucher programmes.
• Excellent Project Management skills, especially in managing integrated and multisectoral projects.
• Proven capacity to supervise, train, and coach staff.
• Specific experience of working in consortia projects.