Collaboration Manager – Collaborative Cash Delivery Platform at Mercy Corps

The Collaborative Cash Delivery (CCD) Network was founded in the wake of the Grand Bargain 2016 annual meeting, and is a global network of international non-governmental organisations who operate in every global humanitarian crisis that provides cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming. Mercy Corps is one of the 14 global members of CCD. The CCD seeks to identify systemic issues with humanitarian CVA responses and resolve them. It brings together the voices, capacity and expertise of the NGO community, both local and international, in order to drive programme quality and ensure humanitarian CVA responses and key decision makers are accountable to the people they are serving.

Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the humanitarian community has implemented the largest cash assistance programme in history. The CCD deployed a Shared Services Hub (SSH) model to the Ukraine response comprising a Collaboration Facilitator, a Localization Adviser, a Data Governance Adviser, a Social Protection Adviser and a Cash Trainer of Trainers.

In mid-2022, the CCD opened a community of practice in Ukraine for CCD members and other interested NGOs. This community of practice currently comprises 57 participants from 27 (ACF, ACTED, CARE Caritas, Christian Aid, Concern, CRS, DCA, Dobra Fabryka, DRC, ERC, HelpAge International, HI, HIAS, IRC, Mercy Corps, NRC, Oxfam, PIN, Plan International, Premiere Urgence, R2P, Save the Children, Solidarites International, TGH, Welthungerhile, World Vision) agencies and is used to discuss issues related to the humanitarian cash response and to advocate accordingly. In addition to offering a space to discuss, debate and advocate on cash technical and operational issues, the CCD was able to fill gaps left by the CWG on specific cash issues such as the lack of linkages with the social protection system, the lack of guidance on cash for protection, the underrepresentation and involvement of local NGOs in coordination structures and the lack of harmonised data sharing agreements and deduplication SoPs. The CCD has also partnered with Ground Truth Solutions to ensure that aid applicants and recipients drive improvements to cash-based humanitarian programming in real time by listening to their voices, feedback and experience.

The CCD in Ukraine has now evolved from a largely technical CVA forum, to a formalized network with the involvement and leadership of country directors, to offer an even stronger platform to debate, challenge and advocate on technical and operational issues, with a much needed injection of technical expertise, as well as to counterbalance UN voices. 18 agencies have signed the CCD Ukraine MOU and Mercy Corps is seeking a Collaboration Manager to build on the successes of CCD Ukraine to date, and to lead its continued work in Ukraine.

You will serve as the Ukraine CCD Collaboration Manager and facilitate discussions between the various members, drive forward collaborative activities, establish a more robust framework for CCD structure and operations in Ukraine, and promote CCD across strategic, operational and technical functions, as well as for fundraising and awareness-raising efforts.  You will be accountable for any workstreams that are put in place and reporting to the various stakeholders (CCD members in Ukraine, CCD Ukraine Steering Committee and Global CCD Coordinators).  You will ensure the adherence to any of the Ukraine CCD Platform Governance Framework and Memorandum of Understanding.

Based on CCD’s experience from other countries, there is strong evidence that a facilitated collaboration can have greater impact than the sum of parts. The role of the Collaboration Manager is integral in facilitating information sharing on member interventions and strategic and technical priorities, building key relationships across agency focal points, building trust among actors and using that trust to foster greater transparency and common positions.

Building on the learning and approaches tested in the other contexts, especially in the Ukraine crisis response, the Collaboration Manager (CM) will provide leadership of CCD’s Ukraine Network. This will involve using CVA technical and coordination expertise to facilitate NGO/civil society collaborations to achieve improvements in the efficiency, accountability, transparency, technical soundness, and effectiveness of the humanitarian cash response in Ukraine. The role holder will use information gathering and sharing, convening, brokering, workshopping ideas, and technical and strategic expertise to proactively address problems and identify opportunities that require joint member action as is feasible. It will support evolving strategy by supporting program design and development, mapping resource requirements, KPIs etc. The CM will have the following broad accountabilities although their workplan will be based on immediate priorities and operational feasibility.

• Facilitate the functioning and operationalization of the Steering Committee of the CCD at the country level and serve as chair and convener of the Steering Committee by working with the members to ensure clear strategies, priorities and transparent decision making.

• Convene CCD agencies regularly and as needed communicating clear meeting objectives, agenda, and outputs.

• Lead the development, and maintenance, of an up-to-date work plan for the CCD, including priority actions for the first year.

• Continue to socialize the CCD platform principles and structure in Ukraine including with members, donors, government authorities, the Cash Woking Group, UN agencies, financial service providers, relevant clusters, and other stakeholders.

• Work in close collaboration with the Cash Working group to ensure synergies and complementarity of purpose.

• Be the link between CCD operational responses and the Steering Committee for Ukraine CCD Platform.

• Proactively support the network with intelligence gathering on funding opportunities and donor engagement.

• Support the development of technical and programmatic components of funding submissions/ proposals for the CCD Platform, including inter-agency partnerships and ensure feasibility and adherence to minimum technical quality standards.

• Support the network on its continued work in social protection, data interoperability and localization.

• As needed and funding permitted, support the recruitment of other CCD dedicated staff, and supervise and capacity build where applicable, in line with the agreed Governance Framework.

• Scope system investment needs/opportunities for the CCD in Ukraine and scope options for technical support to CCD members, as required.

• Build upon opportunities to map the geographic presence, available resources, systems and capacities and innovations of CCD members in Ukraine with the view to having members pre-positioned in various contexts to respond rapidly in crisis situations.

• Manage the knowledge created by the Ukraine CCD Platform: analyze and synthesize information from the various operational responses, workstreams and other stakeholders including key challenges, and systematically capture/document learning.

• Liaise with global CCD focal points and other country-level CCD leads to share learning and experience and utilize this in shaping the CCD in Ukraine.

• Champion learning with CCD members. Analyze and evaluate project performance data. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.

• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.

• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of CCD organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.

• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to the CCD, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• Coordinate and monitor any financial and material resources for the CCD Platform collective activities. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of resources.

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work 

• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members 

• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

• Reports Directly To: Humanitarian Program Manager, Mercy Corps Ukraine

• Works Directly With: Cash Working Group, Cluster Leads, Donors, CCD Global Facilitator and Steering Group, other CCD Collaboration Managers, PeReHID Initiative, local NGO Community of Practice Coordinator

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience working on cash and voucher programming in complex and fragile settings, preferably with an international NGO. Minimum of 3 years’ experience coordinating or managing light to moderately complex inter-agency projects required.

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or Social Protection or related field of study preferred. Additional fields of study relevant to the role may be considered. Employment experience may substitute for some education.

• Required Languages – English, knowledge of Ukrainian is highly desirable

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.

• Ability to connect and translate between technical and strategic levels 

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and the ability to build credibility and work effectively with culturally diverse groups as well as various staffing levels within member organizations. 

• Able to work independently, with a lot of drive, energy, persistence, and dynamism. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.

• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

• Experience leading collaborations and/or consortiums with strong negotiation and facilitation skills.

• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and managing humanitarian CVA, with solid knowledge of cash programming, humanitarian operations and ideally modernizing approaches to cash distributions (digitizing the ‘cash system’, Financial Service Provider engagement, beneficiary data management systems etc.).

• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position for new funding and productive institutional relationships.

• Inquisitive and innovative mind and be flexible and adaptable, responding to situations that arise over the course of the deployment.

• Project management experience in cash programming is highly desirable.

• Experience engaging with partner organizations.

• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.

• MEAL skills and experience preferred.

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

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.

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.

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.

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 and have signed on to the  Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme . By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.