Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, while also helping develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors and using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas: sustainable increases in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises. 
The current portfolio of projects in Sudan includes providing emergency agricultural livelihood support covering crops, livestock, fisheries, and activities related to natural resource management, food security, with planned support to households using cash and voucher modalities. The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as outlined in the project that he/she will be assigned.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Country Representative in Sudan and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR Programme, the National Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist will work in close collaboration with programme, M&E, Finance and Operations units, with an overall technical support from the Cash and Voucher Experts at HQ level. 

Technical Focus 

The incumbent will be part of the FAO Sudan Programme Team and will be responsible for providing technical, programmatic, and operational implementation support through the formulation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of FAO cash transfer and voucher activities in the country.

Tasks and responsibilities

Within the overall scope of work, the incumbent is responsible for the following tasks:

•    Coordinate the formulation, planning, timely implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects and activities delivered through Cash and Voucher Assistance modalities, ensuring compliance with operational standards and FAO corporate rules and regulations, particularly the Manual Section 702 (on cash transfers) and Manual Section 704 (on vouchers).
•    Contribute to ongoing processes required for CVA programming, including: 

o    Needs assessments and market assessments 
o    Response options analysis and CVA feasibility analysis
o    Identification, contracting, capacity development, and management of the relationships with partners and service providers, including Financial Service Providers (FSP), Voucher-Redeeming Suppliers (VRS), and Implementing Partners (IP).
o    Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cash transfers and vouchers.
o    Setup and management of Feedback/Grievance Redress Mechanisms for CVA activities.

•    Manage day-to-day relationship with IPs, FSPs, VRSs, and other partners that FAO engages with for targeting, distribution, verification, and monitoring of CVA interventions.
•    Liaise and facilitate discussions with local stakeholders, including private sector organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, and local government institutions, as necessary to inform the above processes and to ensure appropriate information exchange.
•    Participate in information sharing, awareness raising, and other communication campaigns with beneficiaries, including potentially field visits, as feasible and needed. 
•    Support the development of tools for post-distribution monitoring, evaluation, reconciliation, and reporting and ensure their regular rollout by FAO and Partners.
•    Serve as the CVA focal point to liaise with the CVA team in FAO headquarters.
•    Support and serve as a focal point for a potential rollout of the FAO’s IDEA digital ecosystem for beneficiary registration, data management, assistance delivery and tracking, and reporting.
•    Contribute to the formulation of the CVA component of proposals, concept notes, project documents, reports, and other strategic documents.
•    Regularly participate and represent FAO in relevant meetings of the Cash Working Group and other relevant forums and discussions on CVA-related topics to inform FAO’s programming.
•    Identify and document CVA-related good practices to enhance the quality of future interventions and support their dissemination throughout the organization as opportune. 
•    Report on FAO Sudan’s CVA targets and achievements, upon request.
•    Undertake other relevant duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in social sciences, management, accounting, economics, or other related fields.
•    Three years of working experience in humanitarian assistance programs, particularly in managing and/or implementing cash and voucher assistance (CVA) modalities. 
•    Working knowledge of English and Arabic required.
•    National of Sudan.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Ability to work across different locations and areas of expertise.
•    General understanding of agricultural concepts and emergency programming.
•    Skilled in engaging with communities and diverse stakeholders, especially in conflict-affected areas.
•    Proven ability to manage and develop projects effectively.
•    High-level proficiency in MS Office, particularly in MS Excel.
•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills: writing, presentation, and collaboration skills across various sectors including government, private sector, and civil society.
•    Ability to work effectively in emergency situations and meet tight deadlines.
•    Strong team-building skills and in working within diverse and cross-cultural teams.

Selection Criteria 

•    Proven experience in implementing cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in humanitarian settings.
•    Strong command of English and Arabic, with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both.
•    Experience in working or liaising with diverse stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society, and local communities.
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook. 
•    Ability to work effectively in emergency situations and meet tight deadlines.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION