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For every child,

UNICEF provides multi-sectoral emergency responses to the crises affecting Burkina Faso particularly in the Sahel and Centre-Nord Region, while aiming also at strengthening the link between humanitarian and resilience-building actions. The Humanitarian crises in Burkina Faso is characterized by rapidly deteriorating security and chronic food and nutrition crisis. The security continues to deteriorate and gradually expand its geographic areas. Since January 2019, 588 security incidents were reported (UNDSS, 31 December 2019) compared to 404 registered between 2015 and 2018. The country has seen an unprecedent increase in forced displacement, from 87,000 IDPs reported by the government in January 2019 to 774,741 as of 29 February 2020 (561.8 per cent children), out of which 49.4 per cent hosted in the Centre-Nord region and 36.3 per cent in the Sahel region.

The insecurity has brought severe impact on basic social services where armed attacks against state infrastructures providing essential basic social services, including schools and health centers: 2,492 schools were closed as of 27 February 2020, with over 330,000 children being affected. As of 2 March 2020, 135 health facilities were closed and 140 with minimum operations, affecting over 1.6 million people. The SAM caseload among children under 5 is estimated at 147,131 nationally in 2020. The prevalence of global malnutrition exceeds the critical threshold in areas hosting IDPs, particularly in Djibo (Sahel region) and Barsalogho (Centre-Nord region).

How can you make a difference?

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Field Operations / Emergency, and in close collaboration with relevant sections and clusters, particularly, but not exclusively, the Social Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (SPPME) section on issues of social protection, the child protection section and Area of Responsibility (AoR) and the WASH cluster and section, the Emergency Specialist on Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCT) will provide guidance and technical assistance to support the UNICEF Burkina Faso country office in developing and implementing an HCT strategy to contribute to achieving results for children. Guidance and technical assistance should be provided in terms of design and proposal development, planning, implementation, management, monitoring of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting.

Cash based assistance, design and implementation :

Operational oversight and risk management :

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration for cash transfer programme :

1. Cash based assistance, design and implementation :

• Coordinate and harmonize UNICEF supported humanitarian cash transfer initiatives and provide support and technical assistance on humanitarian cash transfer initiatives at all stages, from design to production of concrete results, and in line with the country context as well as the concept of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus (HDP). This includes both direct support to government and civil society partners as well as support to UNICEF teams working on education, child survival and development, WASH, child protection and communication for development ;
• Advise country office on UNICEF strategic positioning on cash in emergencies in Burkina Faso, based on best practices and country specificities and partners’ comparative advantages ;
• Undertake cash feasibility assessments, where relevant, to inform UNICEF cash programmes, and identify implementing partners, and/or contribute to partners design efforts to ensure that HCT programmes are child-centered ;
• Integrate cash feasibility into existing sectorial and multisector assessments ;
• Integrate HCT in UNICEF Emergency programming in Burkina Faso by designing new relevant sector specific and multisector response using HCT where relevant, and where UNICEF comparative advantage is present, while providing technical advice to the existing ones ;
• Conduct regular operational analysis of the HCT programmes, identify areas of poor performance, bottlenecks, provide quality assurance and identify solutions such as design improvements, additional trainings and technical support ;
• Conduct risk assessments and propose risk mitigation measures for the use of cash in emergencies in the specific country context of Burkina Faso ;
• Ensure Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) is streamlined across the programme implementation cycle with attention to information sharing to beneficiaries, community inclusion in programme implementation, complaints and response mechanism and continuous learning, and propose innovative solutions for not-accessible communities ;
• Ensure analysis of complaints and feedback received through different communication channels and ensure follow up by implementing partners ;
• Develop, review and maintain work plans with time frames and deadlines for key activities, based on changing and emerging needs, and ensure that standard operating procedures are developed ;
• Prepare programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc. ;
• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to ensure efficiency of the programme ( explore and identify joint activities to be implemented and/or coordinated with UNHCR and WFP) in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation ;
• Ensure and maintain a regular exchange with the Financial Service Providers closely with relevant sections ;
• Assist in training of any UNICEF or partner staff on cash transfer programming ;
• Participate in field assessments to identify the beneficiaries’ needs and viable opportunities, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs ;
• Participate in market monitoring and contribute to the development and update of the Country cash profile ;
• Assist in the development of the Minimum expenditure Basket to inform and support the development of cash-based interventions ;
• Work closely with relevant sections, as needed.

2. Operational oversight and risk management :

• In close collaboration with the M&E and IM teams, ensure the establishment and implementation of a sound monitoring and evaluation system for the cash transfer programme, including an effective post-distribution mechanism, undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective action ;
• Produce knowledge management products for the cash transfer programme through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as generating and documenting lessons learned ;
• Include the cash programmes in the third-party monitoring agreement in place, for verification of payments in close collaboration with the M&E unit and the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) focal point ;
• Ensure all applicable HACT risk management measures for HCT are implemented.

3.  Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration for cash transfer programme :

• Provide support to strengthening strategic partnerships around UNICEF supported humanitarian cash transfer initiatives ;
• Participates proactively in the newly establish CASH task force within the office and provide ideas and suggestions for potential partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners ;
• Actively participate and represent UNICEF in nationwide coordination forums such as the national and decentralized Multi Sectoral Cash Working Group, and any other relevant interagency group which might be established ;
• Any other duties as required.

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

• An advanced university degree (minimum master’s degree) in international development, social sciences, public policy, public health, or relevant field, or equivalent experience ;
• Five (5) years of relevant professional work experience in designing, implementing and managing emergency cash transfer programmes ;
• Proven experience in technical cooperation with civil society and government ;
• Previous research experience on humanitarian programming is desirable ;
• Basic expertise in data analysis and information management ;
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner ;
• Experience in emergency programme implementation ;
• Demonstrated knowledge in use of cash in emergencies ;
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes in emergency contexts preferred ;
• Experience in multi-stakeholder co-ordination and facilitation ;
• Fluency in English and French (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of another UN language an asset ;
• The knowledge of data mobile collection is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

• Applying Technical Expertise [III] ;
• Deciding and Initiating Actions [III] ;
• Analyzing [II] ;
• Leading and Supervising [II] ;
• Persuading and Influencing [III] ;
• Adapting and Responding to Change [III] ;
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [III] ;
• Planning and Organizing [II].

View our competency framework at : Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks :

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service ;
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.