JOB DESCRIPTION

E (most hardship)

Non Family

Non FamilyDanger Pay

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-23

August 8, 2025

Programme CBI Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Programme CBI Officer is an active member of the bureau/field operation/division and manages and oversees the UNHCR cash assistance. The incumbent is responsible to ensure that CBI is compliant with the CBI policy, technical guidance and administrative instructions on CBI, in collaboration with the relevant multi-functional team (MFT) members. S/he will ensure the strategic and coherent use of CBI in UNHCR and monitor it adequately. S/he will ensure adequate coordination of all CBIs in line with the collaborative cash delivery principles and provide technical guidance on CBIs to UNHCR staff.

Internally the Programme CBI Officer will liaise with UNHCR country offices and/or Bureaux and/or HQ. Externally, s/he will liaise with Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, line ministries, UN agencies, members of Cash Working Group, donors and other stakeholders.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT), ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Promote cash assistance, and the strategic and coherent use of CBI, ensuring that CBI is maximised to meet protection needs, in assistance and service provision throughout the displacement cycle, including in emergencies.
– Promote and ensure linkages with social protection and financial inclusion.
– Provide technical support on strategic planning and policy making on activities within the area of CBIs, including assessments, planning and budgeting, technical choices, legal and regulatory aspects, implementation modalities, coordination and monitoring.
– Support to ensure that CBI is fully, effectively integrated into the country operations plan and protection and solutions strategies.
– Support and collaborate with protection and sectors to increase the use of CBI in e.g. protection, education, shelter, livelihoods, health and WASH programmes.
– Establish sound monitoring process for cash assistance. Analyse trends and interventions, including CBI expenditure, upstream and downstream activities. Ensure post distribution monitoring (PDM) is conducted regularly and in line with the relevant guidance.
– Ensure fluid communication and information exchange with key stakeholders internally and externally, and participate in relevant coordination and collaboration structures.
– Represent UNHCR in inter-agency coordination mechanisms and fora, promote and maintain collaborative cash arrangements and strong relations with partners and other key actors.
– Generate data and analysis for evidence-base, communication, and visibility.
– Organise and/or support CBI-related learning and capacity building, including organising trainings and learning events.
– Fulfil CBI-related reporting requirements.
– Support the use of UNHCR CashAssist.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

In Country Operations:
– In close collaboration with the Senior Management and under their leadership, ensure the functioning of the CBI component of the Multi-Functional Team (MFT).
– Ensure CBI is implemented according to UNHCR’s policies, rules and processes.
– Ensure CBI is included in the preparedness and response planning, and prepare UNHCR to be the first responder to new emergencies/ and return situations with CBI.
– Conduct required assessments to ensure optimal CBI design.
– In collaboration with Finance, establish CBI Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operation, and coordinate the review with RB and final clearance with HQ. Support partners in developing SOPs.
– Coordinate the implementation of CBI in accordance with the SOP, ensuring audit trail and proper accountability.
– Coordinate with Supply for timely procurement of financial service providers, including the technical evaluations and any other procurement related issues, as well as contracting of financial service providers.

In Regional Bureaux:
– Ensure the coordination of CBI across the Regional Bureau and the country operations.
– Provide technical support to country operations in all aspects of CBI across the programme cycle, in line with UNHCR’s guidance and policy.
– Review and provide inputs for CBI Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operations and coordinate the review and final clearance with HQ.
– Review and provide inputs on issues and documents relating to procurement and contracting of financial service providers, including participation in technical evaluations as required.

In Headquarters:
– Contribute to and generate guidance, policies, tools, and evidence-base on the use of CBI, including policy documents, technical guidance, evaluation, lessons learnt, communication and visibility materials, reports, and synthesis.
– Provide technical support for the rollout and the implementation of CBI to regional bureaux and operations.
– Contribute to CBI-related knowledge management, training, and learning.
– Contribute to the clearance of Standard Operating Procedures with DRM, review CBI procurement-related documents with SS, review CBI-related contracts with Financial Service Providers with LAS, and collaborate with other divisions as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Economics; Social Science; Political Science ;
Business Administration; Social Economics or other relevant field

Certificates and/or Licenses
Programme Management; HCR Results Based Management;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Work experience in cash assistance and proven knowledge and technical skills in the set up, design, implementation, and monitoring of CBIs from a multisectoral and protection perspective.

Desirable
Experience in interagency coordination.

Functional Skills
PG-UNHCR’s Programmes
CB-Cash-based Programming/Managing/Planning
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

– The ideal candidate must have a strong background in Programme implementation and resource management acquired from similar humanitarian response operations.
– Proven experience with blockchain technology, especially in managing blockchain powered financial tools (e.g., Algorand, HesabPay).
– Experience in developing multi-year strategies and integrating CBIs into sectoral and emergency response plans.
– The candidate should have a strong cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence to oversee an ethnically diverse team in a conservative and sensitive working environment.
– Ability to design and implement innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges such as QR-based payments and API-driven platforms.
– Experience in the design and implementation of integration programs and projects.
– Ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts and multiple partners in a sensitive political context.
– Experience in leading multi-functional teams.
– Strong skills in Inter-Agency coordination and advocacy for harmonized cash delivery systems

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

UNHCR and WFP have contracted IQARUS international to provide medical interventions under the AFMAT clinics in Kabul and Field Offices. Staff members on special prescription should travel with sufficient quantity of medication. Medical facilities for referral in Kabul include German Clinic, French Medical Institute for Mothers & Children (FMIC) and Blossom Health Center. Seasonal air pollution occurs in Afghanistan and contributes to comorbidities that are known to worsen outcomes among those infected with COVID-19 and who has respiratory issues.

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Afghanistan has a long history of delivering Cash Based assistance to PoCs for the organization ‘s protection, assistance, and solutions strategies. As of 2025, UNHCR Afghanistan is implementing 12 distinct cash assistance programs, including support for Voluntary Repatriation (VolRep), Reintegration, Winterization, Emergency Response, Persons with Specific Needs (PSN), and Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). While blockchain and mobile-based cash delivery mechanisms are currently applied in selected components, the strategic vision is to systematically integrate digital solutions across all programs. This is essential not only to enhance efficiency, transparency, and traceability, but also to improve the beneficiary experience, reduce fraud and aid diversion, and align with UNHCR’s global digital transformation agenda.

Afghanistan’s CBI program is among the most complex globally, targeting a high volume of returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities. Operational challenges ranging from access limitations and liquidity constraints to evolving security dynamics further elevate the importance of strategic, accountable, and adaptive cash programming.

The Programme CBI Officer (P3) position in Afghanistan is a critical and technically demanding role that requires a strong blend of programmatic expertise, digital fluency, and strategic leadership. Afghanistan continues to serve as one of UNHCR’s flagship operations for digitally enabled cash assistance, having successfully introduced and scaled innovative solutions such as blockchain-based prepaid cards and mobile money delivery systems. The incumbent will lead the digital transformation of the entire Cash-Based Interventions (CBI) portfolio, focusing on scalable, secure, and inclusive digital delivery systems. This includes aligning digital tools with program goals, collaborating with internal teams and external partners like fintech and FSPs, and integrating technologies such as mobile wallets and API platforms. They will ensure robust systems for verification, disbursement, and monitoring, while promoting responsible data use, digital accessibility, and accountability. Additionally, they will support partner capacity-building and continuously evaluate digital systems to inform improvements and risk mitigation.

The incumbent will report to the Senior Operations Officer, and will lead the CBI team, providing guidance and support on CBI technicalities; hence s/he is expected to have strong resource management skills and technical level. S/he will develop the CBI strategy at country level and ensure to review the quality of CBIs design, implementation, and monitoring, along with the sectoral experts and in accordance with UNHCR Global guidance ‘s and standards. S/he will promote the increased use of CBI as for multi-purposes and within sectors and ensure compliance with UNHCR norms, procedures, and standards. S/he will actively advise and support the strengthening of systems (ex. Payments, database, monitoring).

Living and Working Conditions:

Afghanistan is a high-risk country with a very complex operational environment, characterized by uncertainty and frequent security incidents. Movement by all personnel is restricted, coordinated and monitored by the security officers. UNHCR in Kabul is located within the ICON Compound on the Supreme Road of the Police District 9. It occupies 40 MOSS-compliant rooms for staff accommodation, with each room having its own washroom and other facilities. Offices are within the ICON compound. No visits except in UN compounds and Embassies, which is frustrating and stressful to cope with.

 

Outdoor air quality is a health concern in Kabul. The degree of exposure and concentration of air pollutants can be detrimental to breathing problems, the development of chronic diseases, and the deterioration of health status in individuals with chronic diseases. The office provides air purifiers both in the office and in the accommodation.

The security situation is unstable, volatile, and unpredictable, with a rise since 2022-2023. A daily radio check is mandatory. All movements are strictly by Armoured Vehicle or by air. A 6-week R&R cycle is applicable for the duty station, and staff are highly encouraged not to delay. Considering the serious restrictions on staff movement, it is crucial to demonstrate a record of maintaining a positive attitude whenever confronted with adversity and restraints in social life. Curfews are in place throughout the country, and mission travel must be authorized by the Representative or designated managers, subject to completing the mandatory BSAFE, SSAFE, and IFAK training and security clearance procedures.

Staff interested in the position should be mentally, psychologically, and physically fit and ready to adjust to living in a compound setting surrounded by a barbed-wired wall with the presence of 24/7 armed security and dogs patrolling within the compound premises. Applicants should be aware of the possibility of being put on lockdown in bunkers due to security threats. Therefore, applicants need to have strong coping mechanisms and be highly adaptable.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CB-Cash-based Programming/Managing/Planning, PG-UNHCR”s Programmes

Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR Results_Based Management – UNHCR, Programme Management – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance