ERD Assistant

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

1. Context
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the behest of Albert Einstein, IRC provides lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee war or disaster. Present today in more than 40 countries, we are restoring safety, dignity, and hope for millions of crisis-affected people who struggle to survive. IRC’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are disrupted by conflict or disaster to survive, recover, and take charge of their future.
IRC began operations in Cameroon in 2016 to meet some of the growing needs of people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in the country’s Far North. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, notably Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone & Chari, by aiding to increase access to water and improve hygiene practices in the displaced communities and vulnerable hosts, cash support programs to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programs, particularly by meeting the specific needs of women and girls. The coordination office is in Yaoundé with field bases in Maroua and Kousseri.
Following the growing crisis in the Northwest and South West regions of Cameroon, IRC expanded its operations to the South West region in August 2018 and the North West region in December 2019. IRC provides vital humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with a field base in Buea, Kumba, and Bamenda.
IRC Cameroon is committed, as expressed in its strategic action plan 2022, to continue providing essential humanitarian services, emphasizing the need for secure communities and ensuring that affected populations can meet their basic needs and do not resort to negative coping mechanisms.

2. Summary
The ERD Assistant position is fundamental in implementing the MPCA, food and non-food voucher programs, livelihood activities, and VSLA in the IRC intervention sites in the Southwest. The ERD C&L Assistant will spend most of his /her time on the field identifying target communities, establishing relationships with community authorities, overseeing the implementation of field activities such as community mobilization, the identification of potential beneficiaries, the selection of beneficiaries using a participatory approach, the distribution of cash and vouchers, the supervision of voucher redemption activities, the identification of merchants, the management of complaints and the support of beneficiary households on the proper management of their resources, supervise the activities of community mobilizers, train facilitators and provide them with any other necessary support.

3. Intervention Zone and Responsibilities
➢ INTERVENTION ZONE
The position is based in Kumba, with intervention in all localities of the Kumba sub-division.
➢ RESPONSIBILITIES.
• Conduct the community mobilization process, implement a community participatory targeting approach, establish and maintain transparency in the process of implementing activities, and build a functional relationship with the target community.
• Ensure daily activities on the field are according to the IRC’s standards,
• Maintain open and professional relationships with the team members, promote team spirit, and provide oversight and direction to enable supervisors to effectively perform their duties.

• Participate in raising awareness of the main stakeholders, local authorities, partners, communities, and targeted households on the objectives of current projects, deadlines, and activities to be implemented.

• Participate in the identification of project locations and the community mobilization process in the targeted geographic locations.

• Participate in the identification, registration, and selection of project beneficiaries according to selection criteria defined by a participatory and inclusive community approach from stakeholder meetings to validation of client lists.

• Work in close collaboration with community targeting committees and complaint management committees (CGP) in the implementation of all project activities in the intervention localities.

• Support the distribution of MPCAs, cash for business, and vouchers and/or food and non-food products to beneficiaries.

• Ensure the effective installation of clients’ businesses and support the senior officer in training clients on business skills development and entrepreneurship.

• Collect the relevant data during project implementation and regularly provide reports to his supervisor.

• Monitor the voucher and MPCA distribution and redemption process at vendor shops in the Market.
• Support VSLA activities in the SW by following up with the creation of VSLA groups, training of groups, and working with the VSLA groups to ensure savings, Loans, and social funds are carried out effectively

• Conduct regular community follow-ups with VSLA groups to monitor progress, provide support, and facilitate training on savings and loan management.

• Identify and assist VSLA groups facing challenges, ensuring transparency, financial discipline, and community engagement.

• Gather data on VSLA activities for reporting, promote gender inclusion, and foster strong relationships with local stakeholders.

• Support training and data collection of enumerators for monitoring activities

• Ensure all weekly reports are submitted and on time while indicating all the challenges, best practices, lessons learned, and success stories.

• All other functions assigned by the supervisor to allow the development of IRC programs.

• Forward purchase requests and tracking of PRs if necessary.

A. Technical Quality
• Assists the ERD Senior Officer with the design and development of training modules on relevant topics for clients.
• Ensure the success of the distribution process and voucher redemption.
• Act as a mediator between beneficiaries, implementation partners, and IRC.
• Produce quality activity reports.

B. Monitoring
• Prepare and submit weekly/monthly plans/reports.
• Carry out some assessments in implementing communities as the need arises.

• Commit to respecting the IRC Way (IRC Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct).

• Commit to ensuring the optimal implementation of IRC Policies in the context of their work.

• Be available to carry out any other ad hoc task deemed useful by his direct superior or by the IRC.

• Produce reports on programmatic activities on a weekly and Monthly basis.

• Ensure that all activities will be implemented by IRC operational policies.

• Other additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.