Associate Programme CBI Officer

Hardship Level

D

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Residential location (if applicable)

Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep

Grade

PR2

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2025-07-01

Deadline for Applications

July 11, 2025

Standard Job Description

Associate Programme CBI Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Programme CBI Officer is an active member of the bureau/field operation/division and is normally supervised by a professional member who manages and oversees the UNHCR cash assistance programmes. The incumbent supports to ensure that operations are compliant with the technical guidance and administrative instructions on CBI, use CBI coherently and strategically and are adequately monitored.

S/he normally receives guidance and direction from the Senior Programme CBI Officer - or Programme CBI Officer - or Programme Officer or other more senior staff. S/he may maintain close links with CBI staff in UNHCR HQ.
Internally the Associate Programme CBI Officer will also liaise with UNCHR field offices and country offices. Externally s/he will liaise with Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, line ministries and UN agencies.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, 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
- Support the strategic and coherent use of CBI's in the operations, assisting to ensure that CBI is maximised in assistance and service provision, strongly linking it to CRRF, MYMP and development, including linkages with Social Protection and Financial Inclusion.
- Support the review of and assist in coordinating the final clearance with DRM of the CBI Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operations, with support from more senior staff.
- Support the development of cash assistance programmes and support the senior management to ensure that CBI is fully, effectively integrated into the country operations plan for protection and solutions and Annual Program Planning and COP.
- Assist in ensuring compliance to HALEP and that CBI is included in the preparedness and response planning and be a first responder to new emergencies/ and returns situations to ensure operations are using CBI as a modality, in collaboration with more senior staff.
- Support the effective and coordinated procurement and contracting of Financial Service Providers by procurement/supply and finance.
- Provide technical support on planning and assist in policy making on activities within the area of CBIs as an integral part of UNHCR programmes including assessments, planning and budgeting, technical choices, legal and regulatory aspects, implementation modalities and coordination.
- Support and collaborate with sectors to increase the use of CBI in education, shelter, livelihoods and where applicable in health and WASH programmes.
- Support the adequate inter-agency coordination mechanisms on CBIs and assist in building and maintaining strong relations with partners, regional entities and represent UNHCR in CBI coordination, with support from more senior staff.
- Support the establishment of a sound monitoring process for cash assistance, with proper collection, use and monitoring of baselines, standards and indicators needed to measure and analyse CBI's performance. Analyse trends and target interventions including CBI expenditure, upstream and downstream activities.
- Assist in assessing the technical soundness of the operations and generate data for evidence-based decisions.
- Assist in fulfilling CBI related reporting requirements.
- Support the use of UNHCR corporate tools and systems.

- 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in working in cash based assistance programmes and/or humanitarian programming. Knowledge and technical skills in set up, design, implementation and monitoring of CBIs.

Desirable
Not specified.

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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The Associate CBI Officer plays a key role in designing, implementing, and monitoring cash-based programs, ensuring alignment with the 2022–2026 Cash Policy and contributing to the empowerment and self-reliance of displaced populations and host communities. The incumbent will strengthen the systematic use of cash-based modalities, facilitate the shift from in-kind to cash interventions - particularly in Eastern Chad - and coordinate the implementation of CBI projects. Key responsibilities include contributing to the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of CBI activities, as well as designing and supporting market assessments and feasibility studies. S/he will also build capacity of UNHCR and partners to enhance the team’s skills and confidence in managing CBI programmes, enhance collaboration with UN/NGO partners and actively participate in the coordination of the local CBI multifunctional team. Additionally, the role involves supporting resource mobilization efforts and working closely with other sectors and functions.
The position is based in N 'Djamena and has national coverage. The incumbent will be an integral member of the programme team and will serve as officer-in-charge of the unit in absence of the Programme Officer.
The incumbent should have:
• Demonstrated experience in strategic and coherent use of CBI programme management and in aligning it to the broader protection and solutions strategy;
• Solid knowledge of CBI Policy and Administrative Instructions of UNHCR, with hands-on experience managing CBI programmes ;
• Familiarity with UNHCR’s tools such as COMPASS, CashAssist and Cloud ERP;
• Proven experience in supervising the cash distribution and monitoring.
• Strong coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement skills, including with Financial Service Provider(s), and operational partners ;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
To promote diversity within the operation, including geographic diversity, candidates from underrepresented nationalities in Chad operation are particularly encouraged to apply.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

French

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Nature of Position:

Chad is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, driven by a combination of social, economic, environmental, and regional security vulnerabilities. The resurgence of conflict in Sudan in April 2023 triggered the mass arrival of over 850,000 Sudanese refugees, primarily women and children, adding to the 560,000 refugees already present in Chad from the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Sudan. With over 1.41 million refugees, Chad now hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in Africa.  In just two years, Chad has received more refugees than in the previous two decades combined, placing immense pressure on its limited resources, infrastructure, and basic social services.

Approximately 70% of refugees reside in one of the 28 designated sites across the country, often in precarious conditions and heavily reliant on humanitarian aid, while the remaining 30% are settled in villages or urban areas under the “out-of-camp” approach. The complex situation in Chad calls for a reinforced Nexus approach, integrating humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts to ensure a sustainable response and maintain the already fragile social cohesion between refugees and vulnerable host populations.

UNHCR's 2025-2028 multi-year strategy in Chad envisions forcibly displaced and stateless people accessing legal protection, essential services, and pathways to durable solutions that enable them to rebuild their lives with dignity. This vision centers on strengthening protection frameworks and promoting socio-economic integration through advancing a coordinated approach that bridges between humanitarian assistance and long-term development. 

A key pillar of this strategy is the scale-up of cash-based interventions (CBIs), which have proven to be a preferred and effective modality in Chad, demonstrating their value in both emergency response and long-term solutions. CBIs offer flexibility, dignity, and cost-efficiency, while stimulating local markets and enhancing social cohesion. Post-distribution monitoring confirms that beneficiaries prefer cash over in-kind assistance and recent feasibility assessments show that local markets are resilient and adaptive, even in crisis-affected areas. However, CBIs remain underutilized in the operation and must be scaled up to reach at least 30% of UNHCR Chad’s operational budget by 2028. This will involve:

• Prioritizing cash as the default modality across sectors;

• Promoting unrestricted multipurpose cash and innovative uses;

• Strengthening digital payments (mobile money, bank transfers) and corporate platforms (CashAssist, GDT).

• Enhancing coordination through the Cash Working Group and linking with national social protection systems.

Living and Working Conditions:

N'Djamena is the capital and largest city in Chad. For a large capital city, its infrastructure remains basic, although far superior to standards in other regions. The climate is hot and semi-arid, with a rainy season from June to September. UNHCR staff are free to choose where to live, subject to residential security measures. Electricity can be unreliable and international staff are provided with generators by the Office. Water supplies work in most areas, but personal supplies of food and drinking water are required. Most essential supplies can be found in local markets, although the choice can be limited compared to other centers and prices are high as most goods are imported. Banking facilities are available through local banks such as Ecobank and BCC. Health care standards can be described as basic, with staff encouraged to subscribe to International SOS Clinic Services. Serious or complicated health conditions require evacuation to other countries and dental/other specialist care may not be available. Malaria is the most common, but not the only, infectious disease prevalent in N'Djamena and most other regions of Chad. UNHAS flights are the main means of transport to and from field sites. A limited number of companies operate international flights to N'Djamena. Telecommunications services are basic and expensive, with two mobile telephone/internet operators offering 4G services and a growing number of providers installing fiber optic connections. Access to some communication and social media applications, notably WhatsApp, is currently available but has been censored for long periods and requires the use of a VPN. The UNHCR office is covered by UNHCR's own VSAT services.

Several UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs operate in N'Djamena and use the city as a hub. A French military base is located next to N'Djamena's international airport.

The RR cycle in N'Djamena is 8 weeks, as in the other duty stations, except for Baga sola and Bol, where it is 6 weeks.

The overall threat security level in Chad is designated as Moderate by the UN Security Management System in most of the country, except the Lake region, where it is at substantial level, due to higher terrorist- and armed-conflict-related threats. The level of crime is assessed to be substantial both in the Lake and Eastern regions and Moderate in N’Djamena. It is exacerbated by the closed borders with neighbouring countries which impact the already challenging economic situation. Against the backdrop of a sensitive political transition and other socioeconomic factors, demonstrations, strikes, sit-ins and road blockages often for economic, political or social reasons will continue to be reported, despite their harsh repressions by government security forces.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

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

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Add. 1 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance