Field Officer, Internal Audit at GiveDirectly (GD)

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by providing cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. The Brookings Institution estimates that $70B of cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of it on evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that, establishing cash transfers as a benchmark for foreign aid – as the index fund is a benchmark for the financial industry – and in the process accelerating the end of extreme poverty.

GD has raised over $700M since launching in 2011, delivered cash to more than 1 million people, and launched offices in 10 countries. We’ve also supported large-scale, experimental research that indicates strong recipient impact of our programs. As a result, GD has been celebrated as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company, while the growing cash transfer movement (and GD’s leading role within it) have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.

We’re looking for exceptional talent to grow our collaborative, diverse team. Joining GiveDirectly provides the opportunity to work alongside individuals who come from 21 different countries and speak 69 different languages. We’re actively working toward an equitable and inclusive environment for all team members, and seek candidates who will bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our organization. We recruit from organizations across all industries: our team has hailed from sectors including start-ups, government, consultancies, investment banks, and nonprofits.

Across our global offices, our culture is candid, analytical, non-hierarchical, and fast-paced. We value ability, adaptability, and willingness to learn. We offer competitive salary and benefits.

About the Role

The Internal Audit Field Officer (IA FO) is a member of the Recipient Safeguarding and Advocacy team. Their role is to ensure eligible recipients are safeguarded, their rights are protected, their choices are respected, and that they have the necessary support mechanisms to fully realize the impact of the transfers they receive from GiveDirectly.

The IA FO will be responsible for conducting recipient surveys and associated processes to identify and mitigate risks, investigate cases of potential fraud or recipient harm, and provide recommendations to resolve cases.  Part of the IA FO’s  responsibility also includes supporting the Community Engagement Manager in field risk assessment, Community mobilization and sensitization, and recipient protection.

This role will require sharp judgment on operational issues and challenges, a strong work ethic, strong communication skills, and a strong commitment to GiveDirectly's values, mission and model.

The Recipient Safeguarding and Advocacy team is strictly firewalled from GiveDirectly’s operations team. By joining as an IA FO, you must agree to do your work with a high degree of confidentiality and anonymity.

Reports to: 

• Senior Humanitarian Manager of Recipient Safeguarding and Advocacy - Anna Schuck
• Humanitarian Manager of Recipient Safeguarding and Advocacy - Kamesha Kasolo
• Community Engagement AFM - TBD

What you’ll do:

Field surveys and investigations

• Conduct field surveys with recipients using Taroworks to understand if beneficiaries are experiencing any difficulties related to GiveDirectly’s cash transfer program (collecting funds, family conflicts, thefts, scammers, etc.)
• Sync data collected every day after the field activities
• Report any reported cases in the system and follow up with daily briefs to the line manager for quick action 
• Conduct in-depth investigations on different cases as assigned by your manager and propose adequate recommendations for conclusion. Cases could involve fraud, request for bribes, thefts, sexual harassment, presence of impostors, etc.
• In the event of fraud or other irregularities, the IA officer will visit recipients and conduct investigations to determine whether the recipient should be enrolled in the program.

Reports and documentations

• Responsible for escalating information and reporting difficult cases to supervisor based on escalation protocols
• Brief your manager on the day’s outcome and help him/her in the management of next steps
• Produce weekly reports of cases, observations, and outcomes.

Other tasks and responsibilities

• Collect all possible complaints and provide responses within a reasonable time frame,
• Raise/transmit all sensitive cases that may harm the security and dignity of life/family of the beneficiary for action to be taken. 
• Supporting the Associate Field Manager in the day-to-day of field operations, including work planning, field risk assessment, Community mobilization, and sensitization, recipient protection.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by manager

What you’ll bring:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to show respect and openness toward someone whose social and cultural background is different from one’s own – FOs will be the face of our program for recipients and will need to approach all communications and interactions with an eye toward delivering the best possible experience for recipients. 
• Great communication skills – FOs will explain the program and process to recipients and collect and discuss potentially sensitive information about income and government benefits. Discretion and good judgment are paramount.
• 2+ years working with vulnerable communities
• Technological literacy – FOs will use a smartphone, tablet, or computer to accurately record recipient details in survey forms.
• Empathy, honesty, and the highest standards of integrity. High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, especially with talking to people living in vulnerable communities 
• Excellent critical thinking and decision making skills. Strong ability to show good judgment when resolving complex problems

• Fluency in Hausa, Yoruba, Igala, Igira or Bassa is required. English is a plus.

• Strong interest in advancing the distinctive values and mission of GiveDirectly

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve.

Logistical Details

• This will be a contract position for approximately 6 months with the possibility of extension as needed
• • A positive and supportive team with opportunities for advancement 
  • A demonstrated commitment to helping all staff develop and grow
  • A competitive salaryAll Field Officers will use a GiveDirectly-issued smartphone, tablet, or computer for data collection

    Why work at GiveDirectly?

    At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:

GD Values

• Recipients first. We prioritize recipient preferences over donor preferences or our own.
• Team Next. We do what is best for the success of the organization - not the individual.
• Be proactively candid. We say what we believe and are honest in sharing information.
• Create positive energy. We strive to be a source of energy - not drain it - for our colleagues.
• Think rigorously. Act Quickly. We are intellectually rigorous and oriented towards action - not debate.
• Know yourself and grow. We recognize and accept our imperfections with a focus on growth
• Accept reality. Propose solutions. We don't dwell on problems. We are actively working to create solutions.
• Be productively ambitious. We take the risk of pursuing industry-changing successes, not marginal advancements.
• Read more about our ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts here and about our decision to move our central support teams to remote first here.