Social Protection in Crises and Humanitarian Cash Transfers Specialist at DAI

Scope and responsibilities of the role:

The consultant will undertake the following activities under the overall guidance of the Emergency Manager:

• Assess available documentation and standard operating procedures, and consult UNICEF, WFP, and FCDO to articulate a shared vision and objectives in a brief inception report with a clear workplan to guide the consultancy on the basis of agreed timelines.
• Conclude a data-sharing agreement with WFP, and/or, if warranted, a Memorandum of Understanding to enable integrated targeting of beneficiaries and data protection, and use of joint mechanisms to ensure accountability to affected populations (e.g., via complaints and feedback mechanisms, integrated delivery of assistance), including regarding sexual exploitation and abuse or gender-based violence
• Lead a technical assessment for CVA across sectors to assess its feasibility as part of the humanitarian response, including in coordination with WFP, and for the Rapid Response Mechanism
• Follow up and provide technical guidance on ongoing and planned CVA interventions in BAY states including development of tools (for baselines, monitoring, etc.) and analysis on CVA
• Provide capacity building for program staff: Train relevant staff and implementing partners on CVA tools
• Guide the roll out of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Cash Operations & Programme Ecosystem (HOPE) , in coordination with the Emergency Team in Abuja
• Assess feasibility and effectiveness of safety nets / social protection systems in Yobe and Borno States: Undertake a diagnostic assessment of the social protection and humanitarian cash transfer landscape in BAY States, to comprehensively understand the role and position of key actors and partners, and to serve as basis to identify areas of opportunities for UNICEF and complete a robust state-level assessment of risks and opportunities for linkages between humanitarian action and the social protection systems.
• Share learning with the humanitarian subgroup of the Social Protection DPG to inform the development of a humanitarian-social protection offer, present findings to the wider Social Protection DPG, and humanitarian forum for validation.
• Support the State authorities of key government counterparts (Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Water Resources, etc.) to implement and monitor post-emergency cash transfer projects
• Work closely with Social Behavioral Change (SBC) to identify and document interventions and approaches for gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and promote “cash+” support for targeted families to reduce GBV and other harmful practices, adopt and maintain high-impact preventive and promotive nutrition, health, sanitation, hygiene, and other healthy family-related practices.
• Document lessons and learning from assessments, feasibility studies and programme implementation and share the lessons as appropriate. Efforts should also be made to share lessons from monitoring and evaluation exercises.
• Engage with other STAAR-supported initiatives in Nigeria, as feasible and relevant.
• Any other tasks related to humanitarian cash transfers (HCT) and social protection implementation

Competencies of expert/team

The consultant should have the following skills and qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in social science, social protection, social and economic public policy, development economics, international development, or any other related field
• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible and strong technical/operational professional experience in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and social protection programming with at least 5 years in humanitarian crises.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and writing skills. Fluency in English (verbal and written). Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Experience working with governments and UN agencies providing support on CVA programmes.
• Experience in complex humanitarian settings mandatory. 
• Familiarity with or past experience working with UNICEF and/or other similar UN organizations or development agencies particularly in programmes related to HCTs.
• Experience working in Nigeria desirable.

Selection and scoring criteria:

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible and strong technical/operational professional experience in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and social protection programming with at least 5 years in humanitarian crises
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and writing skills. Fluency in English (verbal and written). Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Experience working with governments and UN agencies providing support on CVA programmes
• Experience working in Nigeria desirable