Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary: 

IRC is planning to implement Lifesaving intervention to meet the needs of crisis-affected populations through Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and strengthen local mechanisms in Benshagul Gumuz, Tigray, Oromia and Amhara regions. This Lifesaving Multi-Purpose cash assistance project will be implemented to meet basic needs of affected IDPs and host community in the intervention areas. 

The primary goal of the project is to ensure that vulnerable HHs in selected woredas across Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, and Tigray regions can meet their emergency and recovery needs without resorting to harmful coping strategies. The project focuses on one key outcome: that vulnerable women, men, girls, and boys have access to life-saving assistance. The IRC will implement unconditional and unrestricted multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), prioritizing beneficiary choice, flexibility, and dignity while being the most cost-efficient and appropriate method of aid delivery to meet basic and emergency needs. The Cash programming officer directly report to FCDO MPCA project manager in each respective region. He/she will be responsible for overall FCDO Lifesaving Multipurpase cash assistance project activity planning, implementation, monitoring, follow up and provide technical support for cash transfer program implementation in line with IRC guidelines and procedures. Cash programming officer will be responsible for lead and coordinate intervention Kebeles/ IDP sites selection, establishing and strengthening of community-based targeting approaches, clients targeting, verification and registration processes, and mapping potential financial service providers to ensure fair and transparent cash transfer to multiple crisis affected population

Major responsibilities include: 

Project Management:

• Lead multipurpose cash assistance project activities implementation in the assigned woredas collaboration with kebele, and woreda level Government stakeholders and community representatives. 

• Provide technical support on establishment of targeting and compliance repose committee members in each intervention kebele and IDP site based on IRC cash program Guidelines and procedures. 

• Enhance community participation through community-based targeting and complaint response mechanism approaches to ensure fair and accountable targeting of eligible clients for MPCA in each intervention area.

• Plan and coordinate appropriate Cash transfer modalities and mechanisms implementation on local context analysis collaboration with project staff and other field office teams.

• Ensure efficient and effective Cash program implementation as per the original plan to maintain quality and standard of operations of IRC and Donors. 

• Build teamwork among project staff, partners and other humanitarian organizations to share lessons and experience. 

• Conduct clients targeting, registration and verification collaboration with MEAL team, other project staff and government stakeholders. 

• Conduct identification of potential financial service providers in each intervention area to facilitate safe and secure cash transfer processes collaboration with project manager. 

• Follow up and support complaint response mechanisms are implemented properly in all intervention sites as per IRC and Donors guidelines. 

• Work closely with filed office MEAL team and other project staff to ensure quality implementation of Cash program implementation.

• Follow up and facilitate cash distribution process collaboration with financial service providers to ensure safe and timely distribution of cash to targeted clients. 

Project Implementation 

• Facilitate appropriate kebeles and IDP site selection for MPCA intervention based on kebele selection criteria collaboration with project staff and government stakeholders. 

• Conduct community mobilization and awareness to the local community members, kebele administrators and signatory government sectors on project objectives, Cash program implementation procedures, processes and approaches and selection criteria to create common understanding jointly with project manager. 

• Facilitate validation of client’s selection criteria at Kebele and IDP levels collaboration with concerned kebele and woreda government stakeholders

• Conduct establishing and strengthening of community-based targeting and complaint response mechanisms in all cash program intervention areas to ensure fair, equitable, and transparent selection of affected households for cash support. 

• Proactively work with the project manager and MEAL team at field office level to ensure quality of cash programming. 

• Work closely with MEAL and data collectors to facilitate clients targeting, registration and verification by using cash toolkits. 

• Facilitate clients master list and payment sheet preparation.

• Facilitate issuing of support letters for cash distribution from signatory government sectors.

• Conduct data cleaning and documentation of cash transfer related documents.

• Identify appropriate financial service providers and work closely with FSP to ensure timely transfer of cash. 

• Maintain records of master list, payment sheet, support letters and follow-up and document all beneficiary lists for reference.

• Facilitate and support cash distribution process to targeted clients. 

• Conduct other activities if assigned by project manager. 

Financial management 

• Prepare cash distribution financial plan jointly with project manager.

• Support item forecast preparation for MPCA and submit to supply chain and fiancé for review and upload.

• Prepare and Submit cash projection plan to project manager.

• Facilitate master clients list and payment sheet preparation and submission to facilitate cash transfer to selected clients in respective area.

• Follow up budget expenditures for Cash transfer and other cash related activities in respective region. 

Representation and Coordination: 

• Represent IRC at zonal and woreda level and serve as focal point if assigned by project manager.

• Work closely with community representatives, kebele administrators and woreda government stakeholders in the respective woredas for FCDO project.

• Make ensure that the interventions are coordinated with other actors and stakeholders in the operation area to avoid any duplication of effort. 

• Actively participate in the bi-weekly project management meeting and work on the agreed action points. 

• Participate in a cash working groups coordination meeting if assigned by Project manager. 

Project monitoring and Reporting 

• prepare monthly and quarterly project performance report and submit to project manager timely based.

• Track and document each round cash distribution progresses, challenges and lessons learned in each project intervention site.

• Fill and document cash distribution data base information and share it to project major.

• Prepare narrative and financial expenditure reports for MPCA and cash related project activities. 

• Participate in cash feasibility assessment and protection assessment and prepare assessment reports. 

• Follow up and monitoring client’s registration and verification process collaboration with MEAL team. 

• Monitoring and follow up cash distribution process, PDM, Baseline and end line survey.

Capacity Building and Coaching

• Conduct community mobilization and capacity building on community-based targeting and complaint response mechanism implementation in each kebele and IDP site.

• Provide training for kebele leaders, community representative and targeting committee members on Cash program implementation Guideline. 

• Coaching and capacity building to community-based targeting committee and government stakeholders on Cash toolkit.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Educational Requirements:

• MA/MSC/BA/BSC Degree in Sociology, Development studies, Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Banking, Rural Development, Project Management) or similar with relevant experience of the position demand.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• 1 years of work experience for MA/MSc holders and 2 years of experience for BA/BSc holders in Sociology, Development studies, Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Banking, Rural Development, Project Management) or similar with relevant experience of the position demand.

• Proven experience in cash programming (conditional and unconditional cash transfer) management is a big plus. 

• Demonstrated ability and experience CVA and cash transfer modality, working with financial service providers an emergency and post emergency/recovery program. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications 

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time 

• Strong analytic problem-solving skills 

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure 

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite 

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels 

• Ability to manage and work through change in proactive and positive manner. 

Language Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English, Amharic, and ability to speak local language is advantageous.

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site: https://theirc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External_Careers/details/Cash-Programming-Officer_JR00000254?locations=5a9644a87028014de1cc2b8a6316f527

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for 

• Date of application 

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience 

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address 

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances