Lead user: Ukraine Cash Working Group
Background:Since the escalation in February 2022, the Ukraine Cash Working Group has scaled up its capacity and developed a suite of tools to harmonise and coordinate the rollout of multipurpose cash. In coordination with the national and local authorities, humanitarian organisations have begun to register and subsequently assist newly vulnerable populations on a no-regrets basis. The no regrets response is active until the end of August 2022.
As of 06 April 2022, 68,000 people received cash assistance in 24 oblasts (administrative regions). This figure is expected to grow quickly, as many more people are currently being registered at an increasing speed, and payments are anticipated to be made within a few days following their enrollment. Given the severity of needs, partners are prioritising pace and scale over avoidance of duplication of people assisted.
The Ukraine Cash Working Group
The Ukraine Cash Working Group (CWG) was introduced in 2014 and fully established in 2016. It is a technical working group co-chaired by ACTED and OCHA within the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), under the overall strategic and programmatic direction of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT). The CWG focuses on the operational coordination of Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC) programming and the support for the coherence of the use of cash as a modality in the wider humanitarian response.
In supporting the emergency MPC rollout, the CWG set up thematic Task Teams focused on targeting, transfer mechanisms, de-duplication and registration, and market monitoring. The CWG is setting up a 5th Task Team, focused on social protection linkages. Currently, CashCap is providing coordination support and technical expertise on social protection to the CWG (remotely) until June 2022. A sixth task team on Learning is being established and will be chaired by CaLP.
Objective:Provision of technical assistance to the Cash Working Group to support humanitarian cash and social protection linkages by supporting coordination between cash actors within the Cash Working Group, building relationships and engaging with the government on alignment with social protection systems, and identifying gaps and opportunities for further technical assistance, whether with the CWG or with the Ministry of Social Policy (or elsewhere).
Recipient of services:Co-Leads of the Ukraine Cash Working Group (ACTED and OCHA).
Other beneficiaries of services:Government of Ukraine (particularly the Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Digital Transformation) and Cash Working Group Members. STAAR and FCDO, by recommendations for further support.
Scope and responsibilities of the role:The individual/team will be responsible for:
· Mapping joint humanitarian / government gaps, and coverage, creating a shared understanding of what humanitarian cash responses and social protection responses are evident in Ukraine.
· Assessing the current level of alignment between humanitarian and social protection programmes, blockages to further alignment, and opportunities to transition to a more social protection led response.
· Support the CWG to identify strategic and practical opportunities for linking humanitarian cash with social protection (at different stages of the response), including through building relationships and engagement with the Government in partnership with CWG members and utilising their networks.
· Leading in the coordination of Task Team 5 (under strategic oversight of CWG Co-chairs)
· Building relationships with key government, humanitarian and development actors to understand and identify potential blockages to humanitarian and social protection alignment
· Lead on developing a mutually agreed strategy for transition to government at the earliest opportunity. Ensure the principles of this strategy are applied in CWG decisions including through other task teams (eg registration & data, targeting, deduplication, payments, data, etc.) To this end, ensure government participation and awareness of the work of the CWG to the fullest extent possible.
· Identify areas where further STAAR assistance may be beneficial.
METHODOLOGYPrepare, organise and deliver Task Team 5 meetings. This will include the development of an agenda and an approach to the workshop, managing invitations and logistical preparations with the help of co-leads, reporting and results in dissemination. It will include the main facilitation of the event, with a potential contribution from other co-facilitators, the date will be defined by co-leads and meetings will be hosted online.
The following outputs are expected as a result of this work.
1. Organise and facilitate bilateral and collective calls with CWG members to support the finalisation and update of the workplan. This will include reaching out to members and potential members, capturing ongoing and planned activities, as well as supporting sub-group members to identify how they could contribute to the workplan.
2. Maintain an up-to-date online sub-group workplan, capturing ongoing and planned activities by task team members that respond to priority areas identified.
3. Agenda and meeting notes (including summary and action points) for Task Team 5.
4. Produce short papers/briefing papers (with one-page summaries including graphics/diagrams):
· Mapping existing social protection responses in Ukraine, and comparing and aggregating against the humanitarian cash response to understand the adequacy and coverage.
· Assessing the case for linking humanitarian assistance and social protection in Ukraine
· Analysis of legal frameworks surrounding access to data, particularly beneficiary lists, and opportunities for aligning with existing systems, particularly DIIA
This work should not overlap with but complement technical assistance that may be provided by other partners to the Cash Working Group.
Competencies of expert/teamConsideration will be given to either individuals or teams of experts who have the necessary competencies, experience and availability to deliver the assignment. Detailed knowledge and practical experience of the following are required:
· Advanced University degree (Master Level minimum) in Development Studies, Political
· Science, Disaster Management or relevant field
· Minimum of 5 years experience working in Humanitarian cash programming, humanitarian architecture and systems and linkages with social protection systems;
· Social protection systems design and delivery, including shock-responsive social protection, ideally in crisis contexts.
· Applying gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) analysis to humanitarian cash and social protection, ideally in crisis contexts.
· Experience in producing high quality and policy orientated written products and targeted advice and recommendations for donors.
· Contextual experience of working on humanitarian programming and/or social protection systems within Ukraine would be desirable.
· Experience in engaging with and coordinating humanitarian and development actors to shape and design policy dialogue and programming
· Experience in working with national governments on strengthening social protection systems and/or cash transfers for emergency response is desirable.
· Proven ability to work with a range of stakeholders (development and humanitarian).
· Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and drive for results
· Strong written and communication skills
· The ability to work and communicate through Ukrainian is desirable (but not a requirement).
It would be beneficial for the lead candidate to have access to the following skills:
· Ability to understand legal frameworks, particularly on data protection and information access.
· Data and analytics
Selection and scoring criteria:Individuals/teams will be chosen based on demonstrated experience against the above competencies. Candidates may be invited for an interview by the current coordination role and/or the CWG co-leads.
Timing:The position(s) is/are expected to commence on May 23rd or as close to this as possible to facilitate a two-week handover with the current coordination position. The initial handover can be conducted remotely. Security permitting the position(s) should be embedded in Ukraine for as much of the post as possible.
This is a 6-month position, with an opportunity to extend should a need remain. The position will be reviewed at the 3-month mark to ensure that needs continue to be addressed strategically.
AttachmentsHumanitarian Response: Ukraine Cash Working Group
Tracking Social Protection Responses in Ukraine and Other Countries (Living Paper)
Ukraine – can social protection be sustained and support a humanitarian response?
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