Cash Transfer Operations Assistant

Update UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.

Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.

And we never give up.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations.
By prioritizing the most vulnerable, UNICEF seeks innovative solutions to deliver targeted support efficiently. Cash Transfer in Guinea-Bissau offers a transformative tool for UNICEF to enhance the effectiveness of cash transfer programs while addressing the financial risk management challenges faced by implementing partners.

In a country with limited banking infrastructure and widespread poverty, Cash Transfer provides an accessible, secure, and efficient means of delivering financial assistance directly to beneficiaries. By utilizing Cash Transfer, UNICEF can bypass the logistical challenges and delays often associated with traditional cash distribution methods, ensuring that funds reach recipients quickly and safely, even in remote areas.
This approach not only empowers recipients but also enhances transparency and reduces the risk of financial mismanagement. Cash Transfer transactions are easily traceable, which improves accountability and allows for better monitoring and evaluation of program outcomes.
Furthermore, Cash Transfer facilitates greater financial inclusion, enabling beneficiaries to access a range of financial services that can help them build resilience and achieve long-term economic stability.
By integrating Cash Transfer into its cash transfer programs, UNICEF can significantly bolster the efficiency and impact of its interventions in Guinea-Bissau, while also supporting the broader goal of sustainable development in the region.
Through this assignment, the national UNV will support the planning and implementation of the UNICEF-managed Cash Transfer cash transfer program and work closely with both the UNICEF Programme and Operations Teams and Implementing Partners. The national UNV’s role will be crucial in ensuring the timely and effective disbursement and reporting of financial resources through Cash Transfer at both the national and subnational levels. By streamlining financial transactions and enhancing accountability, the UNV will contribute to accelerating progress towards achieving SDG1 (No Poverty).

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative Operations, the national UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Contribute effectively to coordination meetings: Actively participate in the Cash Transfer and Cash Transfer meetings with sections, collaborate with budget focal points and Programme Assistants from sections.

• Support planning, implementation, and monitoring: Assist in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the UNICEF-managed (a) Mobile Money to UNICEF beneficiaries within Guinea-Bissau Country; (b) Deposit and withdrawal by UNICEF beneficiaries in the Financial Service Provider(FSP) local branches in Guinea-Bissau; (c) Deposit and withdrawal by UNICEF beneficiaries in another local bank branch in Guinea-Bissau; and (d) Cash Payment at established cash payment Sites to UNICEF Beneficiaries in Guinea-Bissau. Work closely with the UNICEF Programmes, the Administrative & Finance Officer and implementing partners to conduct regular cash transfer Spot checks and Programme Monitoring Visit (PMV).

• Ensure efficient microplanning and reporting: Oversee effective microplanning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting for both regular and campaigns resources that UNICEF Guinea-Bissau manages to support the national cash transfer program’s activities. implement a pre-verification system, which includes cross-checking mobile numbers against our beneficiary database, alongside a complaint and grievance mechanism for swift issue resolution

– Maintain real-time access to the payment platform used by the FSP, which will allow the office to monitor and oversee the entire process seamlessly. (This real-time access is fundamental to ensuring the transparency and accountability of the fund flow, as outlined in the attached workflow process.
– Ensure Funds exposure in the Financial Service Provider (FSP) account is limited to 2 days maximum, with prompt credit to beneficiaries’ e-wallets within 1 day after the payment to the FSP by GSSC (Global Shared Services Centre). The overall duration of the payment cycle is estimated to be 10 calendar days.
– Ensure that an approved payment list is prepared and signed off by the Heads of Programme and Operations before an advance payment is made to the FSP.
– Ensure finalized beneficiary list must be approved by both the Heads of Programmes and Operations.
– Coordinate with the FSP to complete disbursements to UNICEF beneficiaries within 10 working days and close the payment cycle to limit UNICEF’s exposure.
– Ensure the FSP refunds all unspent balances to UNICEF on the 11th business day of the payment cycle.
– Share the balances in the UNICEF wallets with the Deputy Representative Operations monthly using the required template.
– Ensure that payment verification is conducted immediately after each round of disbursements and before processing additional payments to the FSP, and share sample verification reports with the Deputy Representative Operations.

• Capacity building for partners: Undertake capacity building of national and subnational implementing partners on integrated financial microplanning of cash transfer activities. Ensure that accounting practices respect the contributions of each partner, while adhering to UNICEF regulations and procedures.

• Disbursement planning and monitoring: Ensure timely planning and monitoring of all types of disbursements (a) Mobile Money to UNICEF beneficiaries within Guinea-Bissau Country; (b) Deposit and withdrawal by UNICEF beneficiaries in the FSP local branches in Guinea-Bissau; (c) Deposit and withdrawal by UNICEF beneficiaries in another local bank branch in Guinea-Bissau; and (d) Cash Payment at established cash payment sites to UNICEF Beneficiaries in Guinea-Bissau; based on UNICEF Cash transfer management rules and workflow. Ensure spot checks are undertaken to identify bottlenecks from Implementing partners to timely address them.

• Support reporting on Cash Transfer transactions: Collaborate with the Financial Service Provider team to prepare the real time monitoring reports, bi-monthly reports on the utilization and distribution of cash transfers. Include forecasting, disbursement tracking, and distribution details in these reports.

• Produce analytical reports: Generate bi-monthly analytical reports on expected and received Cash transfer, utilization rates of UNICEF-managed cash transfer funds, and include variance and bottleneck analysis along with proposals for corrective measures.

• Document contributions and promote volunteerism: Document skills transfer and volunteer contributions for the UNICEF and UNV websites. Promote volunteerism among adolescents and youth to ensure effective program design, management, and monitoring, and to guarantee equitable access to quality financial support and other essential services.