Job Vacancy For Digital Systems Officer ,Job Vacancy In Mercy Corps

Digital Systems Officer – Cash and Vouchere Assistance (CVA)

Employment Type: Full-time
Salary Grade: O1
Job Location: Surkhet, Nepal
Valid through: March 27, 2022

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is implementing the “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin” (BHAKARI) program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal. The program is a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID\’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area. BHAKARI builds upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response through cash transfer programming. Parallel to the emergency cash programming are emergency-prevention components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps Nepal – BHAKARI Program is seeking a Digital Systems Officer – Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) who will manage routine data collection and quality control and drive data utilization for Emergency Response activities, specially CVA interventions.

The position will support data collection, cleaning, validation and visualization for CVA in emergency programming including verification of participants targeting, real-time data monitoring and providing feedback during deployment of responses with overall responsibility of Emergency Response database management producing customized reports and visualizations. The CVA intervention includes value voucher, multipurpose cash assistance, cash for work, and Shock Responsive Social Protection. The position requires close coordination with the MEL unit and district team for collection and harmonization of data aligned with programs’ scope. The position will also support troubleshooting technical issues faced during CVA and coordinate with Transfer Service Provider (TSP) for development of digital systems for CVA.

The position will work closely with the Emergency Response Team, TSP, District Coordinators, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team and Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) focal points. Moreover, as gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), child safeguarding, and environmental sensitivity are crosscutting and core components of the all MC programs, the Officer is required to ensure these components are integrated into the response interventions.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Digital Systems Officer – CVA include, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Implementation and Technical Support

• Maintain database management system for emergency responses including participants, markets and vendors data aligned with program targets and indicators
• Ensure proper documentation and data management of communities, CfW schemes and households selection considering vulnerability criteria
• Coordination with TSP for real time monitoring system establishment for CVA modalities
• Facilitate communication with district team regarding issues and anomalies as informed by the real time monitoring system during responses
• Work with Emergency Team for development of tools and questionnaires into digital platform
• Develop and update emergency response participants’ inventory database in digital platforms disaggregated by gender, age, vulnerability among others.
• Generate/update pivot tables and charts of the indicators of interest for routine monitoring purposes as well as ad hoc requests
• Propose, develop and support others developing content for dissemination including situation reports, assessment and analysis reports, PDM, social media, technical manuals etc.
• Maintain master copies of data collection forms and reports (ensuring accurate updating as needed), and support documentation of data management systems in electronic venues accessible to relevant teams for emergency response activities.
• Seek for regular weather updates from various sources and compilation of information
• Ensure fulfillment of Cash Minimum Standards based on the checklist for each of the responses and communicate with the district team to fulfill the requirement.
• Support on capacity building of program staffs on digital and electronic platforms adopted by the program for data collection, analysis and reporting
• Work closely and support CVA Officers and Emergency Team to perform CVA activities at the forefront
• Ensure all safeguarding and protection concerns are met and dealt with during the distribution process including, but not limited to safeguarding and protection mainstreaming guidelines

Monitoring, Evaluations, And Learning (MEL) And Reporting

• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to generate and collect required information and data for measuring program intervention results
• Contribute to the production of formal and informal reports of the program in a timely and efficient manner
• With the MEL team led on implementation of issue log system embedded in community monitoring and feedback mechanism
• Document learning and experience from implementation of CVA activities
• Collect case studies to support on providing evidences of outcomes from the CVA intervention
• Work with CARM to ensure community complaints for CVA are addressed and adapted into the programming
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems for both internal and external use. Ensure filing adheres to internal protocols and is regularly maintained
• Carry out daily/weekly/monthly work plan as directed by the Emergency Response Senior Manager
• Deal with complaints and issues related to cash and voucher distribution in coordination with CARM

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps Nepal towards local partners/local government bodies and community leaders for CVA process and ensure, in collaboration with Emergency
• Response Team and Cluster
• Attend all relevant cluster meetings when requested
• Support ongoing coordination and representation with relevant agencies, such as government officials, I/NGOs, as appropriate
• Maintain internal coordination and works closely with BHAKARI sectoral team and wider team members and support integration within programs at district level
• Support on organising appropriate staff meetings, workshops, planning sessions as required

Finance and Compliance Management

• Ensure all internal control procedures are adhered to and that necessary measures are put in place to ensure high standards of accountability and compliance
• In liaison with the Finance department, make sure all transactions are sent to the beneficiaries at designated areas of intervention on time
• Work closely with finance/compliance to mitigate fraud, conflict of interest and legal ramifications of Mercy Corps activities
• Support and orient on MC Code of Ethics and uphold Mercy Corps’ Zero tolerance of corruption policy Security
• Work closely with relevant field management staff to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of operating teams when implementing CVA activities
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues

Other

• Ensure proper integration of safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector specific project planning and implementation.
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when a crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor, Chief of Party, and/or Country Director

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Emergency Response Senior Manager

Works Directly with: Emergency Response Team, district coordinators, BHAKARI consortium team, including implementing partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Economics, Statistics, development studies, Social Science or other relevant degree
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience in management and utilization of program data (preferable humanitarian related programming)
• Experience managing data including cleaning, aggregating and generating reports using database platforms
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet software and data processing
• Ability to design clear and attractive presentations and other communication documents including progress reports, situation reports and assessment reports
• Knowledge of online, open-source data collection tools and approaches
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders
• Experience working with international NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on development or humanitarian assistance
• Excellent oral and written English and Nepali skills required, knowledge of local languages highly preferred

Success Factors

A successful Digital Systems Officer – Cash and Voucher Assistance will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.