Cash for Food Sector Lead at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI started its operations in North-East Nigeria in July 2014 to carry out a rapid evaluation of the most relevant constraints suffered by the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by the food crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.

The COOPI Nigeria Field Office is located in Sokoto State, in order to cover intervention LGAs in Sokoto State and to provide direct assistance to the IDPs and their hosting communities, through a multi-sectorial program covering Food Security, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social protection, Early Recovery, and Livelihoods, Nutrition and Child Protection interventions. COOPI's capacity to respond to the humanitarian situation in the country is confirmed by its experience in providing humanitarian aid in more than 27 other Countries around the World, in over 50 years of operations.

The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated “Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” Depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner’s expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through the area-based approach.

Under the BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, COOPI will be implementing WASH, Protection, and Cash for Food Assistance (CFF) activities inSokoto state covering Goronyo and Rabah Local Government Area. The consortium will provide immediate humanitarian assistance to displaced populations in IDP camps, through an area-based approach and integrated multisectoral intervention in health, nutrition, WASH, CFF, and protection, in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states through a coordinated approach with the state government and other key actors in North West Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Cash for Food Sector Lead

Location: Sokoto (Goronyo, Raba, Sokoto South, Isa, & Sabon Birni LGAs) (100% of the time)
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Deputy Project Manager
Supervised: Area Coordinator/Project Manager
Starting Date: ASAP
Contract duration: 2 Months with a possible extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding. Working Conditions: 100% Field Based
Language Requirements: Spoken and written fluency in English

Overall Responsibilities

• The CFF Sector lead, will lead the strategic planning, implementation, and management of the cash assistance component of the emergency response project.
• The role involves ensuring that cash-based interventions are delivered effectively to support the displaced populations in line with BHA’s objectives and COOPI’s mission.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and oversee the execution of CFF activities.
• Ensure program alignment with national policies and humanitarian standards.
• Develop operational plans and standard operating procedures for cash distributions.
• Manage the CFF team and coordinate with other sectors for integrated assistance.
• Oversee beneficiary identification, registration, and distribution processes.
• Ensure program transparency and accountability to beneficiaries and donors.

Capacity Building:

• Conduct training for CFF staff on cash transfer programming and financial management.
• Strengthen the technical capacity of local partners and community-based organizations.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support in Development and implementation of robust M&E frameworks to measure program impact.
• Analyze data to inform program adaptations and report on progress against indicators

Proposal Development:

• Contribute to the development of proposals for funding, ensuring the inclusion of cash-based interventions and livelihood components.
• Collaborate with the program development team to align proposals with donor priorities.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Engage with humanitarian actors, government agencies, and local authorities for coordinated response.
• Participate in cash working groups and sector meetings to advocate for CFF approaches.

Gender and Inclusion:

• Ensure that CFF activities are gender-sensitive and inclusive, addressing the needs of all beneficiary groups.
• Integrate gender and inclusion strategies into program planning and implementation.

Reporting:

• Prepare timely and accurate reports on CFF activities for COOPI, BHA, and other stakeholders.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for organizational knowledge.

Networking and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Leverage partnerships to enhance program reach and impact.

Knowledge Sharing:

• Facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and learning within COOPI and the broader humanitarian community.
• Organize workshops and learning events to share insights from the CFF program.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in cash programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• This Terms of Reference outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for the CFF Sector Lead under the BHA-funded project.
• The role is pivotal in ensuring that COOPI delivers high-quality cash assistance to support the resilience and recovery of displaced populations in Northwest Nigeria.

Desired Experience

• At least a degree in social science, Art, or other related disciplines, Either a Masters or PGD in Protection is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, specifically in cash transfer programming, emergency response or food security interventions, including a minimum of 3 years in a leadership or coordination role within INGO/NGO settings.
• Proven experience in managing field teams, coordinating with stakeholders (government, community, and partners) and designing or overseeing market-based interventions is required.
• Experience working in humanitarian settings, particularly in Northwest Nigeria or similar conflict-affected areas, is highly desirable.

Application Closing Date
4th July, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Applications shall be reviewed on a rolling basis, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.