DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION / REQUIREMENTS:
SCOPE OF WORK
TAYAR NEPAL – IMPROVED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT
Position: Compliance Officer
Type of Employment: Long Term Technical Assistance
Level of Effort: 130 days (6 months)
Period of Performance: On/about July 1 to January 1, 2021
Base of Operations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Project Background:
USAID/Nepal’s Tayar Nepal – Improved Disaster Risk Management Project (Tayar Nepal) is strengthening the capacity of Nepal’s national and sub-national institutions responsible for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response. Nationally, Tayar Nepal works with the newly created National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and other disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) entities to improve how national-level systems and institutions address all types of risks caused by natural hazards and technical disasters. Locally, Tayar Nepal works in target municipalities to enhance local DRRM capacity by working with existing and new local bodies and communities to identify and implement successful DRRM initiatives which are consistent with national level policies and guidelines.
Component 3 is Tayar Nepal’s rapid response mechanism designed for rapid activation and mobilization in the event of a disaster. While originally conceptualized for use in the event of a large natural disaster such as earthquake or flood, USAID plans to activate Component 3 to enable the project to support the NDRRMA in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic which has taken hold in Nepal. The first task order is expected to focus on the following objectives:
- Prepare municipalities for the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 crisis
- Pilot replicable livelihood and economic support activities
- Mobilize financial resources to address urgent recovery needs
Purpose:
The Compliance Officer will assist TayarNepal in the implementation of Component 3 activities, particularly monitoring the compliance of its Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) implementation and bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, internal control systems, and governance processes. The Compliance Officer will adhere to DAI policies, procedures, internal control and USAID rules and regulations.
Women and persons with disabilities, marginalized and disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities and Key Tasks:
The Compliance Officer is responsible for the following tasks:
- Examine and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of activities under the Cash and Voucher Assistance program, assess risks, and provide recommendations to manage risks according to internal processes
- Review transactions, awards, grants, documentation, etc.to ensure that CVA-related practices are as prescribed in the project’s Field Operations Manual (FOM) – for instances where there is either non-compliance or deviation, recommend changes to either the FOM or practices
- Ensure that cost reasonableness, allowability and allocability is demonstrated and documented
- Review documentation for instances where a deviation occurred to ensure that such documentation provides the basis for the deviation and that related decisions are adequately justified or supported
- Conduct verifications of documentation from CVA-related vendors, grantees, subcontractors and service providers, including existence of confirmations, proposals, requests for feedback, etc.
- Provide support and guidance to Tayar Nepal staff to ensure procedures are compliant and adhere to the terms established in the Contract, USAID regulations, and the TayarNepal Field Operations Manual
- Lead periodic assessments and reviews of grants and subcontracts, particularly those involved in the Cash and Voucher Assistance program
- Offer guidance to grantees, subcontractors, vendors and services providers on compliance matters as needed
- Review, monitor, and track client and local CVA-related report content and data to ensure information is accurate and supported and to ensure adherence to established contractual requirements
- Evaluate the controls established to ensure compliance with those policies, plans, procedures, laws, and regulations that have significant impact on operations and reporting
- Evaluate any other compliance or CVA-related operations concerns at the request of the COP, as appropriate
- Coordinate with DAI’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) and Internal Audit on any allegations of misconduct, corruption, waste, and abuse, if needed, and evaluate the reliability and integrity of information and the means used to identify, measure, classify and report information
Qualifications:
- University degree in relevant field required. Masters preferred.
- At least 8 years of relevant experience comprehensive project management and audit, including at least 3 years of compliance experience on USAID-funded projects.
- Experience determining the reliability and integrity of financial and operational information
- Experience evaluating internal control systems to determine whether compliance adheres to established policies, procedures, laws and regulations
- Experience reviewing program operations and evaluating CVA initiatives for consistency with established management procedures, preferably in a context of emergency response related to natural disasters or pandemics
- Well-developed analytical writing skills, communications, and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with MS Office software
- Excellent English writing, speaking, and reading skills
- Fluent in Nepali
Other Considerations:
The Compliance Officer will work to integrate activities within the program and amongst program staff, but will maintain a significant level of independence in planning and executing compliance reviews. The Compliance Officer’s activities will be planned in coordination with the COP and in collaboration with senior project management.To ensure this independence, the Compliance Officer will not have direct operational responsibility or authority over programmatic and/or operational activities. Accordingly, s/he will not implement internal controls, develop procedures, install systems, prepare records, or engage in any other activity that would normally be reviewed, as may impair compliance reviewer judgment. S/he will, however, be responsible for reviewing policies and procedures, transactions and documentation. In this sense, discovery of either non-compliant practices and deviations will be addressed by providing recommendations targeted to achieve appropriate resolution and/or corrective actions. The Compliance Officer must exhibit the highest level of professional objectivity in gathering, evaluating, and communicating information about the activity or process being examined. S/he must make a balanced assessment of all the relevant circumstances and must not be unduly influenced by her/his own interests or by others in forming judgments.
The Compliance Officer will not issue opinions regarding compliance/non-compliance with laws and regulations. If s/he believes that any legal implications, risks or indications of non-compliance with laws or regulations are indicated, the issue shall be communicated to the COP and relevant DAI home office personnel.
Location and Reporting:
The Compliance Officer will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party and in close coordination with the Deputy Chief of Party, Task Order Manager, and technical and operations teams.
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates should submit an updated CV to TayarRecruitment@dai.com by Monday, June 15, 2020.