Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.
The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
This position is based at the British Red Cross Dakar (BRC) offices which is the main cooperation platform in the region with programmes in Niger, Burkina Faso, Tchad and Mauritania. The office aims to increase the resilience of the Sahel’s vulnerable population, support the development of strong and well-prepared National Societies and improve Movement coordination and regional approaches to achieve greater impact. The office coordinates all programmes of the Sahel+ network of 10 countries.
Job Purpose
The British Red Cross CVA Adviser will provide strategic, technical, and operational support on Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to National Societies in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Nigeria, strengthening their capacity to design, implement, and scale quality CVA programmes. The role will support the BRC Africa team in operationalising the new International Strategy 2025-2030, ensuring CVA is effectively integrated into bilaterally and multilaterally supported programmes.
The 4 national societies have been delivering CVA for several years now, and CVA is a tool they use commonly, and a CVAP evaluation has been recently done in Sahel. This position will be supporting CVA operations and CVAP initiatives in those countries following up on the recommendations coming from that exercise in the case of Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.
Under the line management of the Regional Programme Manager and working closely with the BRC Sahel Representative, UKO colleagues, Cash Hub, and other BRC and Movement CVA resources, the CVA Adviser will contribute to resource mobilisation, proposal development, reporting, and learning initiatives. The role will also facilitate knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer coaching, and capacity building for National Societies, while maintaining strong partnerships and coordination with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners across the region and beyond.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic & Technical Support
- Support on advocacy on the use of CVA
- Provide technical expertise along the Cash preparedness (CVAP) cycle, following CVAP guidelines, and including organisational self-assessment, approach, methodology, and activities. Digitalisation will be a key aspect of the CVAP plans, with due consideration given to data protection and the responsible use and management of data systems.
- Support National Societies (HNS) in the implementation of CVA responses delivery process (design, implementing, monitoring and evaluation).
- Support the NS in assessment, selection and contracting of FSP, including the review and development of framework agreements and contracts.
- Mentor and coach HNS staff on CVA, providing ongoing support to strengthen and consolidate technical capacity.
- Act as BRC focal person for cash in emergencies across the region providing technical support to all HNS and BRC relevant staff. The CVA Advisor might be deployed within WCA region if agreed and needed in case of emergencies’ situations require so and previous discussion and approval of his/her line manager.
Programme Implementation & Monitoring
- Participate in regular meetings and field visits with partners to track and support the implementation of the cash preparedness component or CVA activities.
- Collaborate with the Programme Officer to compile data for quarterly reporting and draft donor reports related to cash activities.
- Support HNS in developing tools for monitoring cash indicators.
- Review cash-related sections in programme reports to ensure quality and accuracy.
- Provide inputs to the Programme Manager and HNS when outlining budgets for cash activities.
- Advocate for and seek to ensure community engagement and accountability good practice across supported CVA programmes/activities, building on local capacity and emphasising dignity in humanitarian action, and alignment with Core Humanitarian Standards and BRC’s Safeguarding policy and approach
- Advise the Programme Manager on specific risks related to cash activities.
- Maintain a high degree of coordination with the rest of advisors and team members
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Coordination, Partnerships, & Representation
- Identify potential partners and synergies to strengthen the implementation of CVA interventions of HNS and the cash preparedness component of the programme.
- Engage and collaborate closely with key Movement CVA resources and coordination platforms to ensure cooperation, cross-learning and mutually supportive CVA activities in the region – Movement’s African French speaking CVA Community of Practice (CoP)
- Participate actively in regional Cash Working Group meetings.
- Liaise technically with the Cash Hub to ensure coherence and consistency across BRC to the Movements standards and common approach. Also coordinate with the BRC’s Global Emergencies, Surge and Technical Advisory teams as required
Resource Mobilisation & Communications
- Provide technical inputs for proposals and fundraising activities related to CVA.
- Support the development of communication materials highlighting cash programme achievements, lessons learned, and impact.
- Support HNS with their communications and advocacy capacity in CVA, and their participation in cash working groups and other coordination forums as necessary.
Capacity Building & Learning
- Facilitate knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer exchange, and access to key CVA guidance and tools among National Societies.
- Support testing of tools, simulations, and pilots with National Societies to promote learning and continuous improvement.
- Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and coaching on sectoral uses of cash assistance.
- Contribute to capacity-strengthening initiatives that enable National Societies to operationalise CVA effectively in emergency and development contexts.
- Contribute to the development of learning materials and guidance documents to support continuous learning.
- Lead internal reviews and evaluations specific to the cash component and support broader programme-level reviews.
Education
- Post-graduate vocational or technical qualification, or equivalent professional experience, within a specialist technical or professional field relevant to response or recovery programming, including CVA
- Strong technical/professional knowledge within the area of CVA
Experience
- Experience of disaster response project cycle management covering all stages: assessment, analysis, design and planning, monitoring, evaluation, and impact
- Experience of designing and implementing CVA in an international response, recovery, and/or development context
- Experience of working with local partners and building their capacity in CVA
- Experience of implementing CVAP activities and/or of providing capacity building support
- Experience of working with RCRCM actors and experience in the region
- Demonstrable experience working with institutional and high-profile donors
- Experience with funding proposal development
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- Demonstrable knowledge of the role and function of associated technical specialist and advisory support services in delivering humanitarian assistance and building resilience
- Capacity for influencing decision-makers
- High-level communication, influencing, and negotiation skills
- Understanding of PGI, safeguarding, and CEA minimum requirements
- Good mentoring and capacity development skills
- Understanding of a matrix approach to leadership and management
- Ability to travel within the region
- Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
- Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s and BRC mission and values.
Languages
- Fluency in English and French
- Good command of another IFRC official language (Arabic, Spanish)
Competencies, Values and Comments
Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National Society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
