CVA (Cash&Voucher Assistance) Specialist in Plan International

Role purpose and background

The conflict in Ukraine is resulting in a major humanitarian crisis with over 4 million people having fled to neighbouring countries, and millions displaced within Ukraine. Plan International is responding to the crisis and working in partnership with civil society organisations in Poland, Romania, and Moldova to meet the key needs of those affected by the crisis as well as host communities.

Plan International has been present in Ukraine since July 2022 and has established partnerships with civil society organisations, ensuring national actors are equipped with technical support, best practices and flexible resources, with a primary thematic focus on Child Protection, Education and Mental Health &
Psychosocial Support. 

This position is a temporary assignment to cover a Maternity Leave.

Dimensions of the Role

The Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist has a key role in coordination and liaising with partners, and work with our partners, developing skills and ability to implement CVA projects in a humanitarian crisis. 

This role encompasses working with various types of partners, such as: Youth Groups, Civil Society Organisations, Local Organisations, INGOs, UN Agencies, Private Sector companies and more.

The Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist needs to be able to adapt activities and work streams to a changing context. The Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist will closely work with the Business Development Manager, Program Manager, other technical specialists, finance, and local partners and sectoral actors. 

The Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) Specialist will be responsible for proactive engagement and support to the Сlusters in terms of CVA components, implemented by Plan and Cash Working Group, alignment with sectoral standards and ways of working. You will build a positive profile of Plan International with donors, UN agencies and support fundraising activities.

Accountabilities

• Ensure that Plan’s CVA activities are coordinated with other Plan’s programmatic areas, protection actors, stakeholders, and Governmental and non-Governmental agencies.
• Ensure CVA activities adhere to technical standards including SPHERE, CALP, and cluster recommendations (MPCA and other sectoral cash transfer values, de-duplication activities, registration, targeting etc.)
• Support Partners in undertaking PDMs within two to four weeks of cash transfers and analyse the results for improved programme design. 
• Support Partners in Building Blocks deduplication activities whenever appropriate. 
• In collaboration with national and international CVA actors, map current institutional response capacities.
• Coordinate implementation of most appropriate CVA interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.
• Work closely with the relevant programme implementation manager(s) to ensure that the implementation of relevant activities is planned and implemented in a phased and prioritised manner in full consultationand co-ordination with all relevant agencies both governmental and non-governmental.
• Ensure that all CVA activities are aligned with Plan’s Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs). 
• Develop capacity building plans and provide training, support, and mentorship to Plan’s implementing partners.
• Undertake field visits to monitor the implementation of activities, identify opportunities and constraints, provide and action recommendations and remedial action to challenges in the program. 
• Provide brief updates and reports on sectoral activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders as required.
• Work closely with the response management in resource mobilization, including actively contributing to the development of quality concept notes and proposals and donor engagement.
• Research and engage with different Financial Service Providers (FSP) operating in Ukraine.
• Actively engage and follow Cash Working Group recommendations, participate in CWG task teams. 

Actively engage in initiatives led by Plan International’s Global CVA Team — including global meetings, learning events, development of guidance and recommendations — by contributing insights and lessons learned from CVA implementation in Ukraine.

• Follow organisational, donor and sectoral reporting requirements.

Key relationships

Programme Quality Manager, Plan International Ukraine Technical Specialists, and support staff (Finance and logistics); and Local project partnersUkraine Hub and Global Hub relevant teams, Cash Working Group and other Clusters actors. 

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

Essential Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of international humanitarian principles and codes of conduct.
• Experience of working in humanitarian settings.
• Experience and the willingness to learn the design, implementation, and evaluation of CVA modalities.
• Strong analytical skills: secondary/primary data analysis.
• Knowledge on tackling inequality and exclusion in CVA projects. 
• External representation and communication skills, including ability to facilitate and lead group meetings and working groups.
• Knowledge of English and Ukrainian language essential.

Essential Behaviours 

• Committed to Plan International’s strategy and values. 
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to work under pressure well.
• Communicates clearly and effectively. 
• Flexible work attitude and ability to work independently.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse and cross-cultural audience.
• Involves others in setting and achieving goals.
• Demonstrates honesty and transparency in holding self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and Plan’s standards of behaviour.
• Promotes a strong learning culture in the organization.
• Self-starter and eager to learn.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programms and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.