UNDP Jobs - 82377- Cash for Work Specialist (Coordinator) ~ For Lao n

Cash for Work Specialist (Coordinator) ~ For Lao nationality only

Location :

Vientiane & Khammouane, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Dec-2018

Application Deadline :

12-Dec-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

December 2018 to May 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

During 18-19 July 2018 tropical storm Son-Tinh flooded 55 districts of 13 of 17 provinces in Lao PDR, causing a dam outburst in Attapeu Province. Subsequently all provinces were flooded to various extents in August and September by tropical storms Bebinca and Bajirat, which has considerably increased the need too clear debris and manage unexploded ordnance in contaminated areas (25% of all villages in Lao PDR). The number of households affected has more than quintupled to 132,000, area of paddy damaged has reached nearly 100,000 ha, and 630 km of roads and 47 bridges have been damaged. Following a request from the Government, the Humanitarian Country Team has greatly expanded its Disaster Response Plan to reflect the new needs. Among the most-impacted provinces is Khammouane.

The livelihood margin in the targeted areas was already thin before the flood, with poverty headcount rate of approximately 30% in Khammouane Province (per World Bank LECS survey), and it has all but disappeared following the recent floods. The affected population from displaced households no longer have access to land or food sources as they have lost all their belongings due to floods. Following the request from the Government to expand emergency response to other districts, the United Nations Country Team has applied and received a grant from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to implement cash for work activities.

Cash for work will target the most vulnerable families, of which most are tenant farmers or landless labourers in agriculture (70% of the workforce of the country is engaged in agriculture). The intervention shall ensure opportunities for women’s work (which is already responsible for half of agricultural activities in Lao PDR) while considering other especially vulnerable social groups and the specific practices of ethnic groups. Data collected on the beneficiaries will be disaggregated accordingly. The cash for work beneficiary population of 17,241 includes only those in highly prioritized areas, for whom resources will suffice and delivery is imminently feasible in rapid response mode.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key deliverables of the Cash for Work specialist are:

1. Effective management of the Cash for Work project, hand-in-hand with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to floods-affected people in the province of Khammouane.

2. Support UNDP, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and other partners to make decision on the appropriateness of Cash Based Interventions and on the best modality and payment mechanisms to be used to deliver the response.

3. Draft elements of the interim report, including data on number of people assisted, challenges during project implementation and progress assessments of the on-going CERF project.

4. Prepare a training package on most effective ways to deliver cash-based interventions to be delivered to UNDP Lao PDR CO staff.

5. Management of Programme Field Assistants.

6. Support effective functioning of Early Recovery cluster or any other existing coordination structure.

7. Ensure alignment of the project with Accountability to Affected Populations principle.

Competencies

• Proven record with market-based programming and CBIs;

• Experience in early recovery settings;

• Familiarity with the Government of Lao PDR coordination and response systems;

• Knowledge with UN programming processes, especially at the country and regional levels;

• Demonstrated computing skills;

• Experience with accounting, financial management is an asset;

• Strong communication, report writing skills in both English and Lao.

Required Skills and Experience

A. Academic Qualifications:

· Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Agriculture, Development or related field;

B. Years of experience:

· At least 5-year relevant experience working in disasters and post-disasters settings or related fields.