Cash and Markets Advisor – Hatay/Gaziantep

General Description of GOAL Syria’s response

GOAL is an international emergency and development NGO dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable. GOAL was established in 1977 and is currently operational in 13 countries world-wide. GOAL began operations within Northern Syria in 2012 responding to the acute needs of conflict affected communities with a support structure based in Turkey. GOAL has offices in Ankara, Hatay, and Gaziantep, Turkey and Amman, Jordan which support both the cross border and Turkey programming.

The scale and severity of humanitarian needs in Syria remains extensive. Household needs are persistent due to the protracted conflict, waves of displacement, and an erosion of household’s coping strategies. Conditions are expected to remain unstable and bring additional challenges to struggling communities, combined with the potential detrimental effects of COVID-19. GOAL’s work in Northern Syria is primarily in Idleb and Northern Aleppo Governorates. The program has a heavy focus on Food Security, WASH, Livelihoods and Emergency response with a growing reliance on cash and voucher modalities. GOAL is the largest NGO provider of CVA assistance in North-West Syria. GOAL implements directly, with over 600 staff based in Syria working out of field offices in Idleb and Northern Aleppo, as well as implementing in adjacent geographical locations through Syrian NGO partners. GOAL’s CVA (Cash & Voucher Assistance) response in Syria primarily consists of MPCA (Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance) and vouchers. GOAL is delivering a value voucher-based response to approximately 35,000 households a month under the RESTORE Program. Currently, GOAL is transitioning to e-vouchers.

Overview of the role

The Cash and Markets Adviser will provide expertise to support the design and implementation of GOAL Syria’s CVA and markets-based programme approaches. The incumbent will be responsible for developing guidance, building capacity, and promoting strategic leadership on markets-based programming; as well as supporting the development and implementation of systematically quality and innovative CVA across food security, nutrition, WASH and livelihood programming, whether delivered by GOAL or partner organisations. The role will drive GOAL Syria’s strategy development as well as the technical design and implementation of high quality CVA humanitarian programming in northwest Syria.

The Cash and Markets Adviser has a direct reporting line to GOAL Syria’s Deputy Program Director – Program Quality & Technical and GOAL’s Global Cash Advisor is the technical dotted line manager. The Cash and Markets Advisor- Syria will work closely with GOAL Syria’s Senior CVA Coordinator, RESTORE Programme Director, Emergency Coordinator, Nutrition, Livelihood, WASH and Shelter Coordinators, as well as the Partnership Coordinator and the GOAL Syria MEAL department.

Main Responsibilities:

Job Responsibility #1: Supporting Programme Quality (CVA Design, Implementation, & Preparedness)

30% of time

• Identify opportunities and ways forwards for programme strategy adaption and capacity support to integrate CVA into other GOAL Syria sectors beyond food security and emergency (such as Livelihoods, Shelter, Nutrition and WASH) and expanded use in emergency programming.
• Support needs and markets assessments in relation to CVA and market-based approaches across all sectors as required.
• Guide the programme teams in technical scoping, design, and planning during new programme development; contribute to proposal writing and reviews ensuring GOAL delivers high quality CVA programming that is founded on global best practice.
• Regularly review Monitoring and Evaluation (GOAL and Third-Party Monitoring) reports, including but not limited to Distribution Monitoring, Post-Distribution Monitoring, and Impact Evaluation reports, ensuring that findings on CVA are clearly presented, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring that learnings are captured.
• Provide guidance and oversight to the programme teams ensuring that sectoral programme components (e.g., WASH, Nutrition, Food Security), of CVA programming are technically robust and implementation is aligned with NWS cash programming strategies and GOAL Global CVA strategy.
• Collaborate with relevant sectoral Programme Coordinators, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning teams (MEAL), to ensure quality monitoring of CVA programming. Work with MEAL to review and revise as needed the CVA and markets related aspects of MEAL tools including rapid needs assessments, post-distribution monitoring, market assessment tools, with an emphasis on mainstreaming gender, age, and disability.
• Work with the MEAL department on the planning and design of lessons learned workshops across all sectors, ensuring that learnings on CVA interventions and market-based approaches in gathered, critically discussed, captured, and shared with relevant team members.
• Collect and analyse program data, capture, and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and implementation; contribute to the cash and markets learning agenda.
• Provide technical support to the Syria team on diversifying the market-based approaches to include other types of markets support interventions beyond CVA based on market functionality/access gaps.
• Where appropriate, promote the use of GOAL’s electronic transfer platform across non-Food Security related sectors of GOAL’s programme portfolio (Emergency, Livelihoods, Nutrition, WASH and Shelter), and work with Food Security and Emergency teams to ensure that learning about its use and is captured and shared.
• Support the Syria Programme Director with the promotion of integrated programme design aiming to increase the overall impact of CVA at community level.
• Contribute to and champion CVA organisational learning when integrated and applied to Nutrition, Food Security, Livelihoods, and WASH interventions ensuring that our learnings are shared with partners, HQ, NWS Cash Working Group, and donor audiences.
• Together with the Partnership Coordinator, support strategic engagement with relevant cash partners for partnership expansion in alignment with GOAL’s strategic objectives.
• Support in the identification of partner capacity strengthening needs relating to cash strategy, and tools; develop capacity strengthening development plans and lead capacity strengthening initiatives in cash and markets programming for staff and partners through the design, delivery and facilitation of trainings, mentoring, and capacity building on CVA and markets-based programming.
• Lead the bi-annual annual review and updating of the GOAL Syria CVA risk mitigation and contingency matrix with relevant programme and programme quality stakeholders; oversee the matrix’s implementation progress is monitored quarterly by relevant programme and programme quality stakeholders. Promote the active use of the matrix to programme and programme quality staff and ensure its ongoing relevancy to GOAL Syria CVA programming.

Job Responsibility #2: Technical Leadership

25% of time

• Ensure the clarity, consistency and quality of technical components of internal and external reports (e.g., donor and HQ reports and updates), working closely with Grants Management Unit, Communications and programme teams as needed.
• Support Markets Team to ensure technical quality of market monitoring activities and assure that they serve to inform the planning of standard CVA activities and supporting assistance modality views in Emergency and Food Security Programs.
• Guide and support programme and markets teams to conduct market assessments for existing as well as new sectors (Shelter, Hygiene, Nutrition) and geographic areas, to inform improvements to existing programming and the design of new interventions.
• Support Programme and Programme Quality teams with strengthening the interoperability of CVA beneficiary registration systems facilitating referrals of CVA beneficiary caseloads to different sectoral departments for complimentary assistance.
• Together with Program and Markets team, develop an assistance modality selection tool adapted to Northwest Syria context and establish protocols for its use at a) initial program design stage and b) assistance modality reviews during program implementation. This will be particularly relevant for the transition from Food Security in-kind to CVA assistance in selected locations.
• Design and conduct a comparative cost-efficiency analysis of CVA Programs against in-kind modalities, using global standard tools and adapting them as needed to fit GOAL Syria portfolio.
• Support the review and update of GOAL Syria CVA and Markets SoP’s and work with colleagues to support understanding and compliance to them.
• In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, undertake detailed needs and market assessment and analysis, and design appropriate project interventions to meet needs.
• For emergencies, in new areas lead or support the project design and start up.
• Identify approaches to strengthen GOAL Syria’s CVA portfolio across programme sectors
• Participate in the recruitment of the technical team members (development of organizational charts, ToR, development and revision of tests, interviews, etc.) as requested.
• Work closely with the HQ Emergency Response Unit and GOAL Syria Emergency Focal Point on the integration of CVA in GOAL Syria preparedness planning and the implementation of subsequent CVA related actions.
• Lead GOAL Syria internal CVA and Markets Taskforce by promoting sharing of learning and knowledge, ensuring filing of technical documents, coordinating external engagement, and driving its members to provide technical knowledge on CVA and markets to other departments.

Job Responsibility #3: Operational Research & Evidence

25% of time

• Identify priority areas for operational research that inform evidenced-based programme design and strategy. Lead on design and coordination of operational research activities in collaboration with Programme Quality Department.
• Document and share CVA evidence/learning to support programme quality, with the aim of positioning GOAL as a leading CVA actor and support CVA advocacy activities aimed at policymaker, and donor audiences.
• Lead on evidence generation/advocacy for the shift in strategy and approaches such as modality reviews linked to improved resilience and health outcomes for beneficiary communities.

Job Responsibility #4: External and Internal Representation & Networking:

20% of time

• Ensure GOAL’s representation and active participation in the Northwest Syria Cash Working Group (CWG), including the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), the SMEB taskforce, and others as needed.
• Lead the CVA Risk and Mitigation Taskforce (part of Northwest Syria CWG) , ensuring that mission and objectives described in its TORs are met, and that member’s participation and engagement is continued.
• Actively and regularly engage in CaLP regional MENA and thematic CaLP working groups as well as cluster cash working groups, based on thematic priorities, particularly the Community of Practice on CVA and Health is a strategic priority for GOAL.
• To lead and drive the development and rollout of the Common Cash Framework Initiative for a harmonised CVA approach in North-West Syria.
• Engage in GOAL’s global CVA network as GOAL Syria’s CVA Focal Point and actively contribute knowledge, tools etc to the network, as well as lead on the roll out of GOAL’s global CVA tools, policies, training etc. within GOAL Syria.
• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with donors, local authorities, UN agencies and other stakeholders.

The role holder may be required to carry out other duties as assigned by the Deputy Program Director – Program Quality.

Requirements: Technical & Functional Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as economics, business, international development, humanitarian studies, or another related field
• Minimum three years to five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience related to humanitarian assistance with strong, demonstrable background/experience with cash and market-based programming
• Demonstrated program design, monitoring and evaluation skills, including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale
• Experience with and understanding of different cash and voucher modalities including cash in envelopes, paper voucher and cards
• Demonstrated experience with needs and market assessments, as well as response analysis frameworks. Familiarity with PCMA, EMMA, MAG, MARKit, RAM, MISMA and/or other relevant assessment and analytical tools would be beneficial
• Experienced in applying methodologies to calculate cash / voucher amounts for sectoral outcomes, as well as for multipurpose cash transfers; experience in conducting feasibility and risk analysis for cash & voucher assistance
• Demonstrable understanding of beneficiary accountability, monitoring & evaluation, and learning
• Able to generate and use evidence and data to innovate, deliver, learn and share what works through learning products related to the application of CVA in multisectoral humanitarian programming
• Significant experience in training, capacity building, and mentoring
• Experience in designing cash and markets policies, tools, templates, SoPs, and guidelines to support programme operations
• Familiar with the Sphere Standards and Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Experience managing operational aspects of CVA interventions in the field, either through direct implementation or with local/national partners
• Experience with development and delivery of training materials, capacity building (coaching, mentoring, training), and other means of increasing institutional knowledge on cash and markets among a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience of promoting quality and impact through at least one cross cutting area: gender equality, safe programming, disability and inclusion.
• Fluent English (working language of GOAL is English) and strong writing skills
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications.
• Spoken and written proficiency in Arabic is an advantage
• For Turkey-based applicants, Turkish citizenship or right to work in Turkey required.

Requirements: GOAL Competencies

• Communication: Skilled communicator and ability to work effectively across multiple cultures, including remotely.
• Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to manage a large workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, and to continually reprioritise multiple tasks as a result of new information.
• Work style: Highly organized team player, pro-active and with demonstrated strong personal initiative and interpersonal skills.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel to Jordan/Turkey when required.

Desirable

• Strong contextual knowledge of Northwest Syria ‐ social, cultural and economic context, priorities and constraints
• CVA experience in contexts with high inflation
• Certified CaLP trainer
• Experience in building and developing local partnerships, including with the private sector.
• Demonstrated understanding of informal financial service providers (Hawala’s)
• Knowledge of the humanitarian program cycle, humanitarian coordination frameworks and the general humanitarian funding landscape.