Cash Transfer Program Officer

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.

Job Overview: 

The IRC is hiring a Cash Transfer Program Officer to support households affected by crisis and drought in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. This role involves planning, implementing, and following up of cash transfer programs to aid communities in need.

Major Responsibilities Include: 

• Support the implementation of cash transfer program activities by closely collaborating with the field coordinator and team, along with the help of the ERD coordinator in Addis.
• Lead the process of identifying beneficiary communities/targeting based on robust and participatory criteria, assist other CTP staffs, if any and implement cash transfer project at grass root level following IRC SOP for cash.
• Maintain master beneficiaries list/database.
• Establish and supervise cash delivery mechanisms for IRC in designated project areas.
• Work closely with financial service delivery (FSP) and Mobile Network Operators.
• Ensure that narratives and financial reporting are delivered in accordance with IRC and donor contractual requirements, within the agreed timescale and budget.
• Additional tasks as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs
• Frequent field visits to targeted woredas is required

               Project Implementation

• Lead community-based targeting and verification of the beneficiaries program participants.
• Maintain and adapt a Master database for all beneficiaries of the programs in the project location.
• Prepare Purchase Requests for program supplies/activities and liaison with field SC and finance team to undertake field procurement as designated and authorized.
• Maintain individual databases for individual transfer programs including Issues verification and payment lists.
• Maintain records of payments and follow-up for all beneficiary lists but also for individual beneficiaries.
• Plan, implement, monitor cash for work activities.
• Develop cash distribution plans, supervise, and evaluate the on-spot cash distribution process.
• Set up and strengthen beneficiaries compliant feedback mechanisms with relevant internal partners.
• Provide cash transfer sensitization sessions for targeted households and other partners.

           External Coordination

• Participate in zonal cash coordination and other humanitarian coordination platforms at the field level.
• Work with Safety and Security colleagues to develop and implement effective safety and security procedures for specific cash transfer programming activities.
• Provide timely technical support to the IRC’s implementing partners; maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner staff.
• Align with IRC’s Global policies, including Whistleblowing, Fraud, and Safety.
• Guide the team with regard to data collection and analysis.
• Represent the IRC on Cash coordination meetings at different levels like region, zone, and woreda.
• Identify and work closely with Financial Service Providers (FSP).

Internal Coordination

• Maintain adequate communication and coordination within the team and with other Assistance departments when planning data collection activities.
• Contribute to the set-up and conduct of needs assessments focusing on data collection for cash transfer programs in the project location.
• Update their direct superior on data collection activities in relation to planned and ongoing cash activities of other humanitarian actors in Ethiopia.
• Ensure and put in place the necessary complaint management and response mechanisms in collaboration with MEAL staff.

    Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Assist in the collection of data, conduct assessments, and provide input for concept note/proposal development for the cash transfer project.
• Supervise progress against the grant work plan; promptly identifying any current or potential delays.
• Ensure all monitoring activities are fully documented, including detailed and timely data collection as required.

    Capacity Building and Coaching

• Raise awareness among communities, government partners, and local collaborators about cash responses as an effective modality.
• Train community facilitators, supervised staff, and others on Cash Transfer Programming (CTP).
• Mentor FSP to meet humanitarian principles during the Cash Response program.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent the IRC in various coordination meetings
• Work in concert with the cash working group to effect changes & directions

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.