Cash and Voucher Assistance Advisor- Haiti

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps helps communities develop their own ideas to solve Haiti’s most daunting problems by using innovative approaches to bring Haitians new social and economic opportunities and to make their country more secure, productive and just.  Established in January 2010, Mercy Corps Haiti has offices in Port-au-Prince, Cap Haitien, Miragoane, Jeremie and more than 80 staff implementing programs in economic development, agriculture, natural resource management and humanitarian response.  Mercy Corps’ economic development work is guided by the principles of pro-poor development and demand driven strategies. Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to development that leads communities and entrepreneurs from relief to sustainable livelihoods to resilience.

Mercy Corps has been a global leader in cash transfer programming (CTP), which represents about half of Mercy Corps’ humanitarian portfolio. This rapid growth within Mercy Corps aligns with industry trends, high level commitments made at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, and Grand Bargain work streams to increase CTP. As a firm believer in the efficacy of cash programming, Mercy Corps has implemented CTP in over 30 countries. Mercy Corps was the first agency to implement CTP in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, the first to pilot cash-for-work in Afghanistan, the first mobile money program in Libya, and the first to use electronic vouchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Position

The Cash Advisor is a key leadership position in Mercy Corps Haiti. They will articulate a vision for ‘Cash’ in Haiti, including drafting and disseminating a Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) strategy for Mercy Corps’ Haiti programs  Additionally, the Cash Advisor will be responsible for technical capacity building, mentoring and guidance for in-country programs (including an upcoming 10M USAID/BHA food security program), developing and supporting set-up of CTP activities, and supporting CTP coordination and harmonization efforts across Mercy Corps programs and locations in Haiti. To that end, the Cash Advisor will be the programmatic focal point working with senior counterparts in Procurement and Finance Teams to streamline cross-functional coordination between Programs and Operations Teams with a focus on cash. The advisor will monitor the context and implementation environment as well as the program quality to ensure it remains conducive for CTP expansion (this includes yet not limited to: market viability, financial sector viability, security and community acceptance of CTP).

In addition to directly advising Mercy Corp Haiti’s CTP, the Cash Advisor will take a lead role in representation at various high level cash coordination venues in and out of the country, including leading and reinvigorating Mercy Corps’ role in Haiti as the Cash Working Group Co-Lead. The position will also be responsible for exploring local partnerships and funding opportunities for both immediate programming with an eye to long-term development and creating those linkages along with senior management.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Promote and give guidance on cash transfer programming in the context of Haiti.

• Work with relevant technical sector advisors and field management to optimize use of cash transfer programming to meet basic needs, food assistance, shelter support, WASH, and early economic recovery.

• Develop strategies to integrate and harmonize cash transfer programming across Mercy Corps’ implementation areas for basic needs assistance, with priority on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA).

• Develop strategies with the field management and sector leads to ensure that CTP best practices are systematically implemented and updated in the overall response interventions.

• Contribute to country-wide strategy development, promoting the centrality of CTP.

• Contribute to proposals for major donors, as needed

Technical Oversight

• Lead on technical support to program managers and directors involved in CVA program delivery.

• Master CTP modalities and apply knowledge for innovative programming as the core methodology of the collective response.

• Coordinate the harmonization of SOPs, tools, and approaches.

• Collaborate with the program teams and the Monitoring and Evaluation function to conduct relevant assessments, present evidence on the effectiveness of CTP, and advise on practices around programming for further expansion.

• Identify various partners (local NGOs, financial institutions, private companies, and government) necessary for successful CTP implementation.

• Lead on determining the most appropriate cash delivery modality/modalities for the context.

• Develop the capacity of in-country staff working on CTP interventions.

• Infuse market interventions into existing programs to ensure emergency response programs are responsive to local markets and enhance beneficiaries’ coping capacities.

• Monitor CTP programs for minimum standards and program quality.

Influence & Representation

• Represent the agency at the Cash Working Group, where Mercy Corps has historically had a co-leadership role, and participate in other relevant coordination mechanisms.

• Nurture relationships with key sector working groups, which implement various forms of CTP.

• Build and manage collaborative partnerships with CTP partners.

• Maintain regular communication with other INGOs, local NGOs, donors and government working on CTP interventions.

• Work with the Regional and HQ Program teams in identifying additional opportunities for medium-term and longer-term programming involving market-driven programming.

Security

• Work closely with relevant field management staff to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of operating teams when implementing CTP.

Supervisory Responsibility

Dotted-line technical supervision of program staff in the field offices (including capacity building).

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: Deputy Director of Programs for Emergencies, Program Managers, Heads of Offices, Senior Cash Advisor (TSU), Operations, Finance

Collaborates With: All MC Program Teams as needed

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S in economic development, international relations, or other relevant degrees;
• 5 years of humanitarian response experience with solid knowledge and experience in cash transfer and market-based programming;
• Experience implementing CTP in complex or insecure environments;
• Demonstrated experience implementing high quality needs assessments, market assessment and analysis (including familiarity with tools such as the Rapid Assessment of Markets (RAM), Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis (EMMA), Market Assessment Guidance (MAG) and/or similar tools etc.), and responsible analysis.
• Experience in infusing market-driven approaches into emergency programming.
• Experience in identifying and developing local partnerships, including with the private sector.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles, concepts and experience in humanitarian cash programming across different sectors, including food security, livelihoods, social protection, and multi-purpose cash/basic needs.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving;
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in cash and market-based programming including technical writing.
• Knowledge of SPHERE and SEEP Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS).
• Proven ability to learn quickly, and lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives;
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders;
• Experience working with international NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on development or humanitarian assistance;
• Knowledge of, and experience developing, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies for cash and market-based programming.
• Excellent oral and written English & French skills are required;
  Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will combine exceptional management skills, data analysis skills and experience in maintaining donor and partner relationships. They will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. They ill also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Port au Prince with minimum 50% travel to the field locations. Although infrastructure is relatively poor in the location, comfortable housing with water and electricity is readily available. There are many places to eat in all price ranges, as well as shops, and supermarkets that are comparable to a US supermarket. This position requires 30% of travel by car to other field offices in insecure environments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme**.** We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. Any offers of employment or continued employment are dependent on the successful completion of the screens which include, but are not limited to our Background Check and Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme processes,

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development