Program Payment Officer

Overview of position

To support UNICEF and the Implementing Partners of the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme in cash transfer payment processes to the enrolled programme beneficiaries in Jubaland and Hirshabelle. The Payment Officer is accountable for the effective delivery and management of cash transfers to the beneficiaries, ensuring the timely release of cash payments to the beneficiaries in line with the agreed payment schedules with the Mobile Network Operators using the Baxnaano Management Information System. This position is aligned with B 4 (Technical Advisor) under stream B of the Capacity Injection Mechanism (CIM) guideline No. 2 of the National Civil Service Commission of the Federal Government of Somalia.

Over the past 5 years, the Federal Government through MOLSA has initiated several social assistance programs and has currently 3 ongoing projects: the BAXNAANO, SAGAL, and CSSP (Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programming). These programs are designed to provide cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households using both poverty and categorical targeting methodology with clear linkages to nutrition, health, and other basic services. The Child-Sensitive Social Protection Program (CSSP) is designed to serve as a shock-responsive Window under the Baxnaano National Safety Net Program and funded by German KfW with UNICEF implementing on behalf of MOLSA and in collaboration with MOLSA counterparts at FMS and district authorities. The CSSP program in its two phases, 1 & 2, targets Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLWs) with children under 1 year old and provides cash transfers to 41,200 households in 5 districts in Somalia.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF CSSP Programme Manager and the direct supervision of the CSSP Programme Manager at MoLSA, the Payment Officer will support the implementation of CSSP-II by ensuring the timely delivery of the social cash transfers to the beneficiaries in close collaboration with UNICEF, and the Implementing Partners. The Payment Officer is accountable for the effective delivery and management of cash transfers to the beneficiaries, ensuring the timely release of cash payments to the beneficiaries in line with the agreed payment schedules with the Mobile Network Operators using the Baxnaano Management Information System. This position is aligned with B 4 (Technical Advisor) under stream B of the Capacity Injection Mechanism (CIM) guideline No. 2 of the National Civil Service Commission of the Federal Government of Somalia.

The assignment requires a full-time commitment, and the consultant will be embedded within MoLSA and will work with the MoLSA Finance Department daily. Frequent interactions are expected with the CSSP Programme Manager at MOLSA, and the CSSP Programme team at UNICEF. The Consultant will be provided with a working space and equipment within the MOLSA Office. Monthly payment will be made based on satisfactory performance, timesheet, and deliverables approved by the supervisors.

Role objectives

The consultant will support UNICEF and IPs in the cash transfer payment process by undertaking the following responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with UNICEF, the MIS & Data Protection officer, Mobile Network Operators, and NGO implementing partners to set up a seamless payment process for the beneficiaries including roles for updating the payment schedule, updating beneficiary records, generating the beneficiary payment list, sharing the payment list with implementing partners for checks against agreed sanction list, payment reconciliation, payment verification, initiating the payment release instructions, verification, and reconciliation of payments, and ensuring payment related complaints and feedback are properly handled.
2. Contribute to the creation of the CSSP as a sub-program in the Baxnaano MIS.
3. Work with the MIS and Data protection officer to enroll all validated beneficiaries into the Baxnaano MIS.
4. Work with the MIS and Data protection officer to ensure the effective utilization of the Baxnaano MIS by the different users in MoLSA, UNICEF, and implementing partners are properly set up for the delivery and management of the CSSP cash transfer processes, i.e. requesting data from the USR, sharing data with implementing partners for community verification, enrollment, generation of the payment list, and payment monitoring, and grievance monitoring and resolution.
5. Coordinate payment procedures, including documentation, and reporting to ensure accountability to MOLSA and donors.
6. Working closely with the UNICEF program and finance team to coordinate the payment processes including creating payment lists, validating the lists, initiating the payment instructions, and sharing the approved payment lists with MNOs.
7. In collaboration with the Baxnaano MIS Officer, coordinate the payment reconciliation and payment verification with the implementing partners and the MNOs done after every payment cycle to confirm the successful completion of the cash transfers to the beneficiaries.
8. Ensure compliance with the HACT procedure and support/collaborate with UNICEF quality assurance activities (spot checks and audits) and ensure findings from spot checks and audits are duly implemented and followed up.
9. Support and participate in the CSSP registration, and enrolment processes to reinforce government leadership in CSSP 2.
10. Support the CSSP Programme Manager in MoLSA in reporting on CSSP progress by providing timely and quality reports on MIS and data-related functions.
11. Participate in internal as well as external dialogues, meetings, and workshops specifically those related to CSSP payments and HACT spot checks and audits.
12. Undertake any other assignment about CSSP payments as directed by the direct, technical, and overall supervisors.

Project reporting

The Consultant shall submit a monthly progress report to the CSSP Programme Manager at MoLSA and the UNICEF CSSP Programme Manager on expected deliverables, with copies of field mission reports if any during the report.

The Consultant will also participate in CSSP-related workshops, and review meetings.

Key competencies

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required: Bachelors Masters PhD Other

Enter Disciplines

• A University Degree in financial management-related fields such as Accountancy or Finance or their equivalent; or an advanced diploma qualification in CIPFA.
• 6+ years of relevant work experience in a finance department.
• Excellent theoretical and operational understanding of the field of social protection, specifically social safety nets and cash transfer programs.
• Understanding of the overall political, administrative, and institutional context of Somalia.
• Excellent computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment.
• Ability to multitask and work under tight deadlines in a highly complex environment.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and deliver high-quality results on time.
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders, especially government sectors.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines during high seasons.
• Relevant experience in government and/or a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.