Cash-based Transfer Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

• advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
• provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
• assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
• position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
• ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The position will be assigned in Isabela Province, with field missions within Isabela Province and Cagayan Province.

Reporting Lines

The Cash-based Transfer Specialist will be under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) in the Philippines and in close collaboration with the Project Team Coordinator, Programme Management Specialist (PMU) and Community Resilience and Emergency Response Adviser.

Technical Focus

The Cash-based Transfer Specialist will provide technical leadership in the design, implementation, coordination and monitoring of cash-based transfer interventions to support food security, livelihood recovery and resilience of vulnerable farming and fishing households. The role will focus on appropriate cash transfer modalities, beneficiary targeting, transfer value and frequency, delivery mechanisms, risk mitigation, accountability to affected populations, and post-distribution monitoring. The Specialist will work closely with government counterparts, local partners, service providers and humanitarian coordination mechanisms to ensure that cash assistance is timely, inclusive, transparent and aligned with FAO standards and project objectives.

Tasks and responsibilities

·    Assist the project team in planning, coordination and execution of cash-based transfer activities (e.g. Unconditional Cash Transfer, Conditional Cash, Cash for Work, etc.);
·    Provide technical support to local partners and humanitarian actors for field data collection within the cash-based needs assessment;
·    Develop the necessary guidelines and cash transfer plans for all cash-based transfer activities;
·    Facilitate discussions with government partners such as Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) among others, and local government units (LGUs) in leveraging resources and systems to implement cash interventions;
·    Lead the development of modality of collaboration (i.e. Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement, Letter of Agreement, etc.) with all partners to be involved in the cash-based transfer activities;
·    Provide recommendations to enhance cash-based interventions during various phases of the project cycle including among others identification and selection of beneficiaries in need of food security and livelihood assistance, and value of cash transfer and frequency;
·    Participate in existing cash coordination groups/structure (e.g. Cash Working Group, WASH, FSN, etc.) and liaise with key stakeholders (Government and humanitarian actors) to ensure complementation with other clusters/interventions;
·    Support capacity-building activities, such as Learning and Knowledge exchange and dialogue for FAO staff and partners, particularly DA and LGUs;
·    Provide timely reporting on the progress and/or bottlenecks of cash-based interventions with recommendations to improve implementation;
·    Support the conduct of a post-distribution monitoring of cash utilization for the project;
·    Support communication on cash transfers related activities through tailored products and different means including web, photo/video, social media, press releases; and
·    Carry out other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as requested by FAO.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
  FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en  
  FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia  
  Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
  FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en  
  FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm  
  FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en     
  Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:

Minimum Requirements  

• Advanced university degree in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development, Community Development/Organizing, other Sustainable Development related studies.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in cash-based transfers in agriculture/rural development sectors, programme management and implementation, capacity building, and coordination with national/regional government structures, NGOs and private sector and the UN agencies.
• Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English
• A national of the Philippines

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

·    Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
·    Excellent writing, and report writing skills in English and Filipino.
·    Willingness to travel to project sites as required.
·    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Filipino.
·    General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION