UNICEF recrute un consultant national spécialiste Cash Transfer, Mauritanie

 

Job Number : 534286 | Vacancy Link

Locations : Africa : Mauritania

Work Type : Consultancy

 

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment :

Beyond its public health impacts, COVID-19 pandemic is causing large scale socio-economic impacts in the lives of people worldwide. In a world connected with trade ties, slowing down of commercial activity has contributed to a global recession that is expected to be more severe than the global financial crisis in 2007[1]. This economic slowdown is likely to increase the number of extreme poor by 33 million (IFPRI, March 2020). For the poor living in fragile contexts, the pandemic has not only reduced economic opportunities and income losses but have created an environment that fosters a reversal of hard-won gains to tackle poverty across multiple key areas, from income poverty to health and education, to protection outcomes.

Like in other regions, children and women in West and Central Africa are vulnerable because of indirect impact of COVID-19, with the disease outbreak having the potential to exacerbate and expose them to specific protection risks and negative livelihood coping strategies, including school dropout, psychological distress, physical violence, sexual abuse, and child marriage as a result of measures used to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

An analysis of the combined impact of food insecurity and COVID-19 on acute malnutrition in 19 countries of the region indicates that 15 million cases of acute malnutrition in children under five years of age are expected in 2020 in West and Central Africa. This represents a 20 percent increase from earlier estimates, in January 2020. UNICEF and WFP issued a joint press release on 17 July alerting the situation and calling for adequate measures to be put in place.

UNICEF and WFP have designed a joint project to support the Governments of Mauritania to provide critical social protection support in the short and medium term, while contributing to strengthened national social protection systems in the medium to longer term. Through this joint project, technical support will be provided for countries to respond to the immediate needs generated by the pandemic, as well as helping to strengthen overall national capacities to adapt and build more shock-responsive, nutrition- and child-sensitive social protection systems moving forward.

The project will deliver essential cash transfers to vulnerable people affected by the socio-economic fallout of COVID-19, taking a two-track approach in cash transfer delivery and implementing complementary services. UNICEF support will work through government social protection systems to deliver essential support. In addition, the program will provide essential complementary services, targeted to prevent a deterioration in the nutritional status of the most vulnerable women and children, and to protect children and women in targeted households from violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and neglect. The delivery of complementary services and the strengthening of cross-sectoral linkages as part of national social protection systems will contribute to optimizing and sustaining the impact of cash transfers among the vulnerable groups reached.

In support to the implementation of this Sahel social protection COVID-19 response project, UNICEF Mauritania is recruiting a Cash Transfer Specialist (Consultant) who will support engagement to strengthen national capacity to establish an effective, child sensitive, nutrition sensitive, shock-responsive social protection system in the country.

Under the supervision of the Social Policy Officer, the Cash Transfer specialist will provide technical guidance and operational support to the design, implement and monitoring of Sahel COVID-19 Social Protection project activities implemented in Mauritania. The staff will liaise with the Government counterparts to support shaping UNICEF social protection / cash response, with Nutrition, child protection and Communication for Development complementary measures.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities :

Main expected results :

  1. Coordination and technical support of the operational implementation of the cash transfer component and its complementary activities under the joint UNICEF-WFP programme funded by the BMZ are effectively ensured ;
  2. Technical Guidance on activities of the Implementing Partners, as per the scope established in signed conventions is effectively provided ;
  3. Technical support and Guidance for the smooth implementation of the schedule of work of the Technical Partners for Monitoring and Control and for Evaluation of the cash transfer programme is systematically and effectively provided ;
  4. Donor Reporting on the cash transfer programme implementation, according to the Rules and Regulations of the BMZ and of UNICEF, is ensured ;
  5. Knowledge Transfer on cash transfer programming for the benefit of UNICEF and key partners is ensured.

Main responsibilities and tasks :

Technical support and coordination of the Operational Implementation of the Sahel social protection COVID-19 response/ cash transfer activities

  • Develop, review and maintain UNICEF – WFP joint work plans with time frames and deadlines for key activities; based on changing and emerging needs, ensure standard operating procedures are developed for the country office ;
  • Coordinate and support, in close consultation with the Social Policy Officer/ Specialist, all joint technical issues related to the activities under the joint programme with WFP, UNICEF programme teams and also the Technical Support Unit under the national agency Taazour and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Childhood and Family and the BMZ Technical Assistance team for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project ;
  • Prepare and finalise, following technical discussion and validation internally and with partners, the cash transfer programme Operations Manual (including the elaboration of a baseline, Post Distribution Monitoring questions and definition of targeting, monitoring and evaluation and innovative transfer of cash mechanisms etc.) and timeline and monitors the smooth implementation of the cash transfer programme by the Implementing Partners, including all necessary adjustments during the implementation of the programme ;
  • Coordinate closely with the Programme Team the implementation of the accompanying measures for the cash transfer programme, including the roll-out of the nutrition, child protection and Communication for Development and visibility/ external communication activities and others and ensure integration and synergies between the BMZ resilience project and the social protection COVID-19 response project ;
  • Ensure close monitoring and quality control of the implementation calendar of the cash transfer programme and adjusts the calendar and activities according to new developments, so that the intervention responds to donor requirements and is implemented in accordance with the project documents, including the Budget,  Methodological Note and the Operations Manual ;
  • Ensure close monitoring of the Risk Matrices in order to anticipate and respond to changes in the external environment ;
  • Adjusts the cash transfer budget in accordance with the donor rules and the UNICEF Regulations if and when necessary and prepares the necessary justifications ;
  • Undertake field missions as required to monitor implementation of activities under the cash transfer programme and manage Post Distribution Monitoring ;
  • Equip the CO team with technical knowledge and document the lessons learned and informs adjustments to the cash transfer programme.
Coordination of the activities of the Implementing Partner :
  • Provide technical guidance and support to the Implementing Partners (Government counterparts) in the implementation of the cash transfer operation and its complementary activities ;
  • Act as the first point of contact in problem-solving related to the implementation of the cash transfer component under the joint programme ;
  • Ensure the technical clearance of all documents and narrative and financial reports submitted by the Implementing Partners ;
  • Undertake in-country missions to monitor the activities of the Implementing Partners ;
  • Prepare debriefings, mission reports, monthly activity reports and presentations as necessary.

Technical Guidance of the Technical Partners for Monitoring and Control and for Evaluation of the cash transfer programme :

  • Provide technical guidance and support throughout the implementation and post distribution phases and assures controls for financial reconciliation ;
  • Act as the first point of contact in problem-solving related to the implementation of the M&E activities for the cash transfer component under the joint programme ;
  • Undertake field missions to monitor the activities of the Technical Partner for Monitoring and Control and of the Technical Partner for Evaluation of the cash transfer programme ;
  • Prepares debriefings and presentations as necessary.

Donor Reporting related to the cash transfer programme implemention :

  • Prepare all draft donor reports, including narrative and financial reports following the Rules and Regulations of the donor and UNICEF and submits to the Social Policy officer/ specialist for clearance before submission to donor ;
  • Prepare responses to queries from the donor regarding the donor report submitted.

Knowledge Transfer on Cash Transfer Programming :

  • Provide support to the Programme Team and partners regarding the mid and long-term plans of the programme and strategies of integrating it under the national operational plans for the strengthening of a national social protection system ;
  • Contributes to the documentation of the experience and lessons learned from the cash transfer programme ;
  • Communicate regularly with WFP, financial partners, UNICEF colleagues, national institutions, civil society on the implementation of the cash transfer programme and its complementary activities ;
  • Ensure any other tasks related to the implementation of the Sahel Social protection COVID-19 response.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have :

  • Masters ;
  • Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Project Management, Economics, Finance, Development, Food Security, or other equivalent areas ;
  • A bachelors degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree ;
  • A minimum of five (5) years of progressively experience in development and specifically in the design, coordination, implementation, management, and monitoring of Social protection and cash transfer programs, preferably in Sahel countries and preferably experience with working on cash transfer programming with a UN agency or a large INGO ;
  • Solid knowledge of Mauritania and its operating environment ;
  • Robust analytical and project management skills ;
  • Experience in humanitarian data, information and program management ;
  • Competencies in producing analysis, reports and other types of technical documents (e.g. plans, contracts, agreements, donor reports etc.) ;
  • Demonstrated experience in documenting lessons learned ;
  • Ability to work in a team and independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner ;
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in use of cash in emergencies and development context ;
  • Experience in multi-stakeholder co-ordination and facilitation ;
  • Solid communication skills ;
  • Fluency in French (written & verbal) and English is required. Arabic or knowledge of local languages would be an asset.

How to apply :

By submitting your application, please attach your financial and technical offer. Only those who have submitted all documentation will be considered.

 

Closing Date Tue Sep 22 2020 00:55:00 GMT+0100 (heure normale d’Afrique de l’Ouest).

 

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