Cash Assistant at Mercy Corps

Location: Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.

As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.

 The cash Transfer Programming (CTP) Program Assistant is responsible for assisting in the implementation of CTP activities in the intervention community of Damboa in Southern Borno State.

With support from the program officer – Cash & Voucher He/she will assist the program Officer to supervise all project selection and planning project assets, Local Government and Community liaison work, monitoring and payment.

The CTP program assistant will report to the cash and Voucher Program Officer and work collaboratively with fellow programs and MEAL staff.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The program assistant will assist the program teams in the day-to-day implementation of all Cash Transfer in the area of intervention

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist the Cash Transfer Officer to ensure program progress according to the developed schedule and work plan
• Monitor voucher redemption process, ensuring they are conducted according to the minimum SOP
• Support in the process of beneficiary registration community mobilization and sensitization
• Assist in promoting community participation and inclusion to encourage community ownership over activity implemented
• Ensure equal representation of various community groups in the implementation of activities
• Assist in the facilitation of community meeting focus group discussions and others as required by the program
• Keep program officers and management updated about the security situation in the project implementation area
• Provide weekly field reports capturing activities progress, lessons learned as well as the general situation and community updates and needs
• Document lessons learned and success stories on the project
• Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedures manual
• Conduct himself/herself professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in the country of operation
• Other duties as assigned

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Cash Program Officer

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and 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 Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting.
• 1 year of experience in project implementation, or work with local partners or in any role that includes training and capacity building of staff partners.
• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral, written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English, Hausa, Kanuri and other local languages is highly recommended.

Success Factors

Strong Work Ethics, having the ability to learn the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments

Dependability and responsibility, having the ability to come to work and be there when they are supposed to be and are responsible for their actions and behavior

Adaptability, being adaptable and maintaining flexibility in completing tasks in an ever-changing workplace. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours.

Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies and procedures and values always and in all in-country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Damboa LGA, Borno State, Nigeria, this is a relatively insecure location where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

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

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.