Cash Voucher Assistance Officer

Position: Cash Voucher Assistance (CVA) Officer
Location: Dhangadhi with frequent field visits
Duration of Assignment: 6 months

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. Operating in more than 40 countries, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program/Department Summary

In August 2024, Mercy Corps Nepal (MCN), Mercy Corps Ventures (MCV), and local technology partner Rumsan launched “B4A,” an initiative designed to leverage smart climate technologies and decentralized data systems, specifically blockchain, to digitize and automate key processes in anticipatory action (AA). The objective is to improve the efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of anticipatory action in flood-prone areas of Laljhadi and Punarbas Municipalities in Kanchanpur District.

Rumsan, a Nepalese blockchain and fintech company, has developed Rahat, a blockchain-based cash and voucher delivery platform tailored for humanitarian programming. Rahat enables transparent, efficient, and secure distribution of resources, aligning with the broader goals of anticipatory action.

This initiative introduces a unique value by pioneering blockchain-based AA in Nepal, a space historically unsupported at scale by current funding structures. In recognition of its innovation and potential, the Climate: Possible Fund has awarded $75,000 to the B4A initiative. This catalytic investment supports broader testing and refinement, particularly around multi-trigger readiness and expanded household reach.

Strengthening Anticipatory Action in Nepal (SAAN) is a 2-year project supporting communities most impacted by frequent flood disasters in Sudurpaschim and Madhesh Provinces by transforming disaster response systems to shift from a traditional reactive approach to a proactive disaster response (known as Anticipatory Action – AA). The program aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response by leveraging established models and flood resilience expertise to partner with communities to proactively mitigate the impact of riverine floods, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and dignified proactive approach compared to traditional reactive humanitarian responses.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a swift, cost-effective, and dignified alternative to traditional disaster preparedness, by fortifying communities in Madhesh and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as local governments, with the necessary knowledge and infrastructure needed for early and timely action in the face of climate-induced floods and droughts. This will support at-risk communities to proactively mitigate the impacts of disasters, while concurrently enhancing the reliability of forecasting by fostering stakeholders’ confidence through more effective utilization of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) forecasting systems and working closely with government and private sector partners.

General Position Summary

The CVA Officer, with support from the country team and relevant technical leads, will lead the overall implementation of Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) programming, including Group Cash Transfers (GCT), for achieving Anticipatory Action (AA) and broader CVA objectives. This position will also lead to the preparedness and operationalization of CVA systems in both pre-crisis and response contexts. Responsibilities include developing and facilitating meaningful engagement and partnerships between Mercy Corps, implementing partners, government actors, financial service providers, and targeted communities. The CVA Officer will also capture and document learnings from this community-led, innovative approach to improve future programming and policy influence.

This position requires solid knowledge and experience in CVA modalities including cash, voucher, and digital transfers and strong competency in participatory approaches, community engagement, and systems strengthening. The CVA Officer will work closely with community groups, local governments, and private sector actors to support contextually relevant, locally driven development and crisis response initiatives through effective cash programming.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs and is required to own these components to ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and environmental compliance are integrated into the program activities.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Group Cash Transfer and Community Engagement

• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive project implementation plan for Group Cash Transfer (GCT) during the project period.
• Map and identify women’s groups, youth groups, Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs), and other Community based Organizations (CBOs) in targeted districts for potential GCT participation.
• Organize community and stakeholder sensitization sessions to introduce the GCT modality, its objectives, and selection criteria to community groups and local authorities.
• Collaborate closely with community leaders, local organizations, and relevant stakeholders to facilitate continuous community engagement and promote local ownership throughout the GCT lifecycle.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity support to community groups in project planning, budgeting, and financial management to ensure effective GCT fund utilization.
• Use co-creation spaces to engage with community groups, assess group abilities and dynamics, identify capacity gaps, and develop strategies to address them. Facilitate training sessions on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and other relevant areas to empower communities.
• Work with the B4A/Climate Possible pilot team to identify and utilize digital payment mechanisms and platforms that ensure efficient, transparent, and accountable group cash transfers.
• Play a central role in selecting and disbursing cash grants to community-initiated projects based on established criteria and processes.
• Identify potential risks and challenges to GCT implementation and develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans. Promote conflict sensitive implementation and address potential intra-community tensions.
• Collaborate with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) colleagues to track project progress, monitor implementation of community-initiated projects, and ensure compliance with financial accountability and program guidelines.
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites, engage with community members, and provide hands-on support to address operational challenges and maximize project outcomes.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders to improve coordination, ensure sustainability, and mobilize additional resources.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports on GCT activities, disbursements, implementation, and impact, ensuring full compliance with donor and organizational reporting requirements.
• Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned from community-led cash transfer programs to support institutional learning and scaling.

Broader CVA Programming and Preparedness

• Lead the prepositioning of CVA systems by conducting pre-crisis market assessments, supply chain analyses, and feasibility studies to determine appropriateness of cash and voucher modalities.
• Conduct household-level vulnerability and needs assessments to support targeting, prioritization, and design of CVA interventions.
• Map financial service providers (FSPs), assess their capacity and reach, and support the development of contracts or MoU to enable scalable, secure, and inclusive delivery mechanisms.
• Provide structured training and capacity-building to local governments, community groups, and partners on CVA principles, standards, implementation processes, and compliance frameworks.
• Support the development and refinement of local implementation guidelines for shock-responsive social protection, ensuring integration of CVA into existing local planning and delivery systems.
• Facilitate simulations and tabletop exercises with local government units to test and refine their CVA preparedness and implementation protocols.
• Ensure CVA activities adhere to Mercy Corps’ program quality standards, data protection policies, and accountability mechanisms.
• Contribute to CVA strategy development and integration into broader resilience, humanitarian, and development programming.

Supervisory Responsibility

Reports Directly To: Senior Project Coordinator

Supervises: N/A

Works Directly With: Anticipatory Action Specialist, Senior MEL Officer, Local implementing partner(s); private sector partner(s); and Finance/Compliance, and Operations team members
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, community development, social sciences, humanitarian assistance, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in CVA programming, including digital payments, mobile money, market-based assistance, and financial service provider engagement.
• Proven experience working in both development and humanitarian contexts, including pre-crisis preparedness and emergency response.
• Experience in community engagement, participatory approaches, and working with local organizations to strengthen ownership and sustainability.
• Experience in delivering gender-responsive programming and ensuring inclusion of marginalized groups.
• Ability to design, facilitate, and monitor community-based training programs on financial literacy, CVA, and project management.
• Strong understanding of local governance systems and experience working with government actors on CVA integration into social protection and disaster response.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate across diverse technical and support teams, partners, and communities.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently in remote, resource-constrained environments.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field sites in rural and remote areas for extended periods.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and documentation skills; ability to capture learning and inform program adaptation.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for the short term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Dhangadi, and it requires frequent travel to field to support country programs.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

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