International Consultant: CASH Project Management Specialist

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Deliver!

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The PMU seeks to recruit an international consultant in the capacity of Cash Project Management Specialist. The Consultant is expected to be primarily home-based and undertake periodic in-country missions to Kabul. On a case-by-case basis field travel may also need to be undertaken, which would be planned in consultation with the Consultant, and according to the progress made in implementation of deliverables. Should field travel be required, the Travel arrangements would be made by the Country Office. The Consultant will engage in critical cash project planning and management processes necessary for implementing complex Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) projects and Incentive Payments projects. 

Scope of Work:

The Consultant will work directly with the PMU Beneficiary Data Management team and the Cash and Incentives Management Team under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Project Management Unit (PMU), who is based in Kabul. The Consultant will also coordinate with various PMU teams and Programme Sections in the Afghanistan Country Office in carrying out the assignment. This consultancy will directly contribute to UNICEF’s transformative work by:

• Supporting to enhance the project management systems, including reporting
• Supporting to build the capacity of new personnel engaging in cash project management
• Supporting to build the capacity of partners (Implementing Partners and Financial/Money Service Providers) for improved cash project implementation
• Supporting to shift to increased engagement with Financial Service Providers, including the use of digital payment methods

In carrying out the work defined in this assignment, the Consultant will ensure full compliance with UNICEF’s policies and procedures.

Work Assignments Overview

Deliverables/Outputs

Delivery deadline

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

1. Review the TORs for MSP contracting and/ or contract amendments, ensuring strengthened TOR quality to ensure MSP service provision for 1 at least 5 incentives payment projects
2. Engaged in mini bidding process or contract amendment process for 6 projects
3. Complete a review of MSP contracts, and contract management meeting with contracted MSPs for at least 6 projects

31 March 2025

(20 working days)

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

Project Management Support

Complete a review of the MSP payment management process, and

1. provide recommendations to strengthen linkage between data management and payment processing systems evidence per project
2. recommendations for strengthening evidence/supporting documents for processing MSP invoices

Capacity Building of Partners

Technical presentation preparation and technical support for annual MSP/FSP orientation (dates to be determined)

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

30 April 2025

(24 working days) 

Project Management Support

Develop a checklist of supporting documents per project for MSP invoice processing

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

1. Complete a review of MSP contracts, and Contract management meeting with contracted MSPs

Increase Engagement with Financial Service Providers and use of Digital Payments

Pilot Initiative for Digital Payment use:

1. Complete consultations with relevant teams to formulate concept note and implementation plan for a pilot project for digital payment use for teacher payments under CBE and/or GATE projects.
2. Formulate Concept Note and Implementation Plan for pilot initiative

Capacity Building of Partners

Training of Implementing Partners:

1. Develop a concept note (with timelines) for training Implementing Partners with Contingency PDs for Emergency Cash Distribution

Capacity Building of Personnel

Formulate a plan for building the capacity of new national colleagues engaging in cash project management

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

30 May 2025 (20 working days)

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

Complete a review of MSP contracts, and Contract management meeting with contracted MSPs

Increase Engagement with Financial Service Providers and use of Digital Payments

Pilot Initiative for Digital Payments:

1. Complete feasibility requirements including required consultations, data requirements and TORs etc. for digital payment pilot for teacher payments implementation to be moved forward
2. Participate in MSP identification process.
3. Complete MSP onboarding and training for the pilot project

Capacity Building of Personnel

Implement on the job training for national colleagues as per developed plan (based on staff onboarding)

Capacity Building of Partners

Training of Implementing Partners:

1. Based on approved Concept Note initiate planning (logistics, dates, training content etc.) for roll out of the training

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

30 June 2025

(24 working days)

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

Complete a review of MSP contracts, and Contract management meeting with contracted MSPs

Project Management Support

Complete a review of the financial reporting for the Projects for the Programme Sections as per the Service Level Agreements

Increase Engagement with Financial Service Providers and use of Digital Payments

Pilot Initiative for Digital Payments:

1. Closely monitor implementation of the Pilot initiative for month 1 of implementation.
2. Trouble shoot implementation challenges, providing required guidance to the UNICEF teams and MSP
3. Document lessons learned from the implementation

Capacity Building of Personnel

Implement on the job training for national colleagues as per developed plan (based on staff onboarding)

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

31 July 2025

(20 working days)

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

Complete a review of MSP contracts, and Contract management meeting with contracted MSPs

Increase Engagement with Financial Service Providers and use of Digital Payments

Pilot Initiative for Digital Payments:

1. Closely monitor implementation of the Pilot initiative for month 2 of implementation.
2. Trouble shoot implementation challenges, providing required guidance to the UNICEF teams and MSP
3. Document lessons learned from the implementation

Capacity Building of Personnel

Implement on the job training for national colleagues as per developed plan (based on staff onboarding)

Project Management Support

In- country mission for 14 days (10 working days: 4 weekend days)

31 August 2025

(20 working days)

Project Management Support

FSP/MSP Payment Management:

Review MSP/FSP payment reconciliation process and prepare the payment packages for at least 6 projects

Project Management Support

Contract Management:

Complete a review of MSP contracts, and Contract management meeting with contracted MSPs

Increase Engagement with Financial Service Providers and use of Digital Payments

Pilot Initiative for Digital Payments:

1. Closely monitor implementation of the Pilot initiate.
2. Trouble shoot implementation challenges, providing required guidance to the UNICEF teams and MSP
3. Complete a progress review with all relevant teams, and partners on project implementation
4. Report on recommendations for the pilot project continuation and/or scale up

Project Management Support

End of assignment report, summarizing key observations and recommendations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Applications must include:

• Cover letter.
• Resume.
• Samples of previous work.
• Financial offer in USD. (This should only be the day rate for working days. UNICEF will provide a daily sustenance allowance for calendar days spent in Afghanistan, including weekends, to cover out-of-pocket costs while in-country, including accommodation. Travel, international and local, will be reimbursed.)
• Applications submitted without financial and technical proposals will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A university degree in social sciences, education, economics, data analytics, project management, or related field. Any other additional certification in a field directly related to this assignment is desirable.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in cash transfer project management is required.
• Experience in large scale and complex cash transfers is required from emergency operational context is required
• Cash transfer experience with UNICEF, demonstrating knowledge of policies and procedures is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with multiple stakeholders (internal and external) for project management is required.
• Demonstrated risk awareness and management experience in project management is required.
• Demonstrated understanding of beneficiary data management systems for cash transfer projects is required; knowledge of UNICEF HOPE system is an advantage.
• An understanding of ERP systems for budget and financial management is required; knowledge of UNICEF VISION is an advantage.
• Knowledge of engagement with financial/ money service providers is an advantage.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills is required.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities is required.
• Ability to work as part of a diverse team and also provide leadership to teams is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks: 

Interested consultants are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee to undertake the terms of reference.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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