Technical Advisor I, Cash & Markets

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a global humanitarian organization that provides assistance to the poor and vulnerable, leading in Cash & Market-based Programming and emergency Food Security & Livelihoods sectors.

The Technical Advisor I will be a key member of the Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) Market-based Rapid Response and Recovery (MBRRR) Team, which spearheads Cash & Market-based Programming and emergency Food Security & Livelihoods sectors. This role involves providing expert technical guidance and support on program design and implementation across Cash & Markets, as well as Food Security & Livelihoods. The advisor will ensure adherence to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles, donor guidelines, and industry best practices, assisting Country Program (CP) teams and partners in delivering high-quality humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations affected by crises. The insights and support provided will be crucial in enhancing the effectiveness, adaptability, and innovation of CRS’ Cash and Market-based programming throughout the agency.

1. Support the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices for Cash and Market Based Programming, fostering engagement with partners, donors, and governments.
2. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
3. Provide programmatic and operational technical solutions to Country Program teams, both remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and the application of standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.
4. Contribute to, and sometimes lead, the technical design for proposals, supporting the preparation, design, submission, and approval of project concepts and full proposals.
5. Act as a technical writer on proposal development teams as needed, advising on integrating donor strategies, priorities, and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
6. Support capacity strengthening initiatives in Cash and Market-based programming for staff and partners by helping develop learning and training strategies, conducting trainings and workshops, and providing coaching.
7. Collect and analyze program data, capture, and share lessons learned and best practices from specific projects to improve decision-making and contribute to the Cash and Market Based Programming learning agenda.
8. Contribute to maintaining relationships with donors, peer organizations, research, and other institutions, participating in forums to share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
9. Support Country Programs and partners in strengthening their cash readiness through targeted technical support, including capacity development, identifying suitable cash delivery mechanisms and Financial Service Providers (FSPs), developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and tools, and supporting the design and implementation of pilot cash programs.

1. Bachelor’s Degree in humanitarian assistance, social policy, economics, or a related field.
2. Minimum of five to eight years of relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO.
3. At least two years of relevant emergency response and field-based experience in cash and market-based programming, including in protracted and rapid onset crisis contexts.
4. Experienced trainer in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Programming.
5. Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in cash and market-based programming, including experience with multiple CVA delivery mechanisms.
6. Demonstrated experience in designing CVA Programs, particularly for US Government funding.
7. Experience in designing and implementing Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) or sectoral cash and voucher programs related to Food Security, Livelihoods, Shelter, or WASH sectors.
8. Experience in other sectoral cash programming (e.g., Nutrition, DRR, Protection) is desirable.
9. Experience with e-voucher platforms is highly desirable.
10. Knowledge of, and experience in, conducting market assessments and response analysis to inform modality decisions across different programming areas, especially in emergency rapid-onset humanitarian contexts.
11. Experience in innovative project design for rapid response with market-based programming in diverse contexts.
12. Experience in proposal development for government and/or private donors.
13. Knowledge of capacity strengthening and technical accompaniment best practices, with a focus on collaboration and supporting partner-led responses.
14. Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners.
15. Understanding of partnership principles.
16. Strong relationship management skills with the ability to influence and gain buy-in from individuals not under direct supervision and to work with people in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
17. Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and systems thinking skills with the capacity to see the big picture and make sound judgments.
18. Good technical writing skills.
19. Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
20. Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented.