DESCRIPTION OF EMERGENCY

Brief Description of Emergency Outbreak/Upsurge and the Consequences for OCHA:
Since October 2023, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including Gaza and the West Bank, has faced severe humanitarian crises due to the ongoing conflict and increase in violence and tensions, including continuous bombardments, ground operations, and increased violence. In Gaza, the entire population of 2.2 million people is in urgent need of aid, with soaring commodity prices and a significant risk of famine. Humanitarian efforts, including Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), aim to support households, but challenges such as price fluctuations and funding shortfalls persist. The socio-economic conditions in Gaza have worsened dramatically, with commodity prices increasing by 1,000%, and the SMEB Transfer Value adjusted to 1,000 ILS to help the population cope with inflation. The West Bank has seen increased settler attacks, military operations, and movement restrictions, leading to significant displacement and a sharp decline in employment, with an unemployment rate of 35% in early 2024. The socio-economic situation is challenging, with a 1% decline in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in October 2024 compared to the previous month, but a 2.5% increase from October 2023. Access to employment in Israel has been heavily impacted, with the number of West Bank residents working in Israeli territories dropping sharply. Despite functional markets, rising food prices and reduced social spending have exacerbated poverty, with the short-term poverty rate surging from 12% to 28%. Humanitarian CVA responses in the West Bank also focus on MPCA, but face challenges due to the fragmented nature of the response and chronic lack of funds.

Brief Surge Need Justification:
The scale and urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and recent developments in the West Bank, combined with the increasing reliance on cash assistance as a fundamental response modality, have outpaced OCHA’s existing coordination capacity. The surge support position is urgently required to address the following;
Why the Post is Urgent;
• The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank has significantly increased the scale and complexity of cash assistance operations.
• The 2025 oPt Flash Appeal requires $370.3M for MPCA, demanding strong coordination and technical oversight.
• The CWG Ceasefire Response Plan is scaling up MPCA, requiring dedicated support for implementation.
Why Current OCHA Capacity Cannot Cope;
• Technical complexities (digital payments, financial inclusion, and social protection linkages) require specialized knowledge.
• Greater donor and government engagement in cash programming necessitates enhanced coordination capacity.
• A surge position is essential to support technical discussions, develop response tools, and engage with key stakeholders effectively.
The CashCap Expert will provide high-quality CVA technical support to the CWG Coordination team in OPT to advance work on selected CVA technical activities. The role of the CashCap Expert will be fully guided by the CWG Coordination team who will define tasks and deliverables based on the priorities of the CWG. The deployment is purely technical, with no coordination tasks, and it is inter-agency in nature as it supports the work of the CWG and its Coordinators. The primary outcome of the CashCap Expert is to provide CVA technical backstopping to the CWG Coordinators: this can translate in tasks and deliverables, as well as in a sounding/brainstorming board function. Some of the tasks and deliverable identified at request stage include; Facilitate technical discussions and development of tools and guidelines for a quality delivery of MPC (including revision of MEB and transfer values). Support strengthening collaboration with clusters in terms of two-ways referral system and sectoral CVA activities. Additionally, the CashCap Expert and the CWG Coordinators will define an action plan, including clear deliverables, once the workplans of the CWG will be finalized. The tasks and deliverables in the action plan might differ from the ones above, based on the priorities and needs identified by the CWG Coordinators. The definitions of tasks will be facilitated by the starting date of the CashCap support one month after take-over of the new coordination team.

OCHA’s Role and Key Challenges:
OCHA plays a crucial role in cash coordination in the oPt through its leadership and co-chairing of the Cash Working Group (CWG) at the national and sub-national levels. The key responsibilities of OCHA in relation to cash assistance include;
• Co-chairs the National Cash Working Group (NCWG) with Save the Children under the ICCG.
• Provides technical leadership for MPCA and CVA coordination across Gaza and the West Bank.
• Engages with the SPCVATWG, co-chaired by MoSD, to align humanitarian cash with social protection efforts.
• Supports inter-cluster coordination, partners, and development of harmonized tools (e.g., transfer values, MEBs).
• Leads information management, market monitoring, and responsible data-sharing policies.
Key Challenges & Mitigation;
1. Banking & Liquidity Constraints: Limited cash flow restricts access; e-wallets, mobile banking, and advocacy for increased liquidity help address this.
2. Market Functionality & Access; Disruptions and price volatility persist; market monitoring, engagement with local suppliers, and flexible transfer values help sustain effectiveness.
3. DataSharing & Protection Risks; Sensitive beneficiary data poses risks; compliance with international data standards, DSAs, and capacity-building ensure responsible handling.
4. Coordination & Funding Gaps; Growing MPCA needs require stronger coordination; enhanced donor engagement, pre-agreed response triggers, and contingency funds help bridge gaps.

Main Partners and Stakeholders in the Field:
The CWG consists of a diverse range of actors engaged in Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and sectoral cash interventions across oPt. The key partners and stakeholders include; Humanitarian Cash Actors; • UN Agencies; UNRWA, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA are MPCA and sector-specific cash assistance leads. • International NGOs; Save the Children, NRC, ACF, CRS, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, ACTED, PUI, ActionAid, SOS, TDH, and others implement MPCA and cash-for-work programs. • Local NGOs; MAAN, RWDS, Aisha, PRCS, and other civil society organizations contribute to community-level implementation. Government & Financial Actors; (Nonmembers); • MoSD: Leads the National Social Protection System and Social Safety Net Programs, coordinating via SPCVA-TWG. • Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA); Oversees digital payment infrastructure (e.g., Al-Buraq system). • Private Sector and Financial service providers (FSPs); Chamber of Commerce, PalPay, Jawwal pay, banks, and fintech companies facilitate MPCA disbursements. Donors & Funding Entities; • ECHO, FCDO, USAID, SDC, Qatar, and other bilateral donors providing financial support for MPCA and humanitarian cash initiatives. 


ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Main Tasks and Duties to be Executed:
- Analyse trends of the Market environment; Raise awareness of CVA and MBP, Advocate for CVA and MBP, Organize Donor briefings on CVA, advocate for space for and leadership by national entities and local organizations, ensure support and rotation of leadership of the CWG including local representation.
-Assess Capacity Building requirements of CWG, clusters, local actors, government partners, and develop strategies for addressing gaps in skills and knowledge; transfer CVA coordination and advocacy skills to national/local counterparts through mentorship- and apprenticeship-type activities; lead capacity building activities (trainings, learning events, workshops, webinars etc) for; 1. CWG, 2. Cluster leads/stakeholders 3. Financial institutions 4. Social protection actors 5. Strategic decision makers 6. Government institutions…
-Coordination of CWG or other inter-agency cash platforms; Set minimum standards, common mechanisms and tools across partners; Establish MEB and transfer values with critical inputs from relevant sectors; Ensure routine inclusion and consideration of CVA and markets in multi-sector needs assessments including consolidating and/or collecting crosssectoral market analysis; Systematically integrate CVA (and particularly MPC) in humanitarian response planning, monitoring and reporting; Facilitate government relations to provide an enabling environment for CVA respectful of humanitarian principles, including on KYC and financial regulation; Support and/or lead collaborative approaches in market assessments, FSP and contracting, feedback mechanisms and monitoring; Engage with clusters and other relevant actors and advocate for quality CVA and accountability to aid recipients (CEA, AAP…); Identify key challenges for the CVA response, including key risks and regulatory and legal issues; Engage with relevant entities (Governments, ICCG, HCT, FSP, development actors, CCD, SP) to ensure coordination and complementarity; Facilitate Capacity building gaps analysis.
- Support to CWG or other inter-agency cash platforms to develop specific tools to improve quality in CVA; SOP for implementation of CVA; Situation/Response analysis; needs assessments and analysis; Risk analysis and mitigation measures; MEB and transfer value guidance; CVA best practices and recommendations; Stakeholder/FSP mapping; CfW guidance; Market Based Programming; Community Engagement and Accountability; feedback mechanisms; vulnerability analysis; Capacity assessments; Common delivery mechanism; digital identity and common beneficiary database; Multi-sector and sector specific market assessments.
-Support to undertake multisector/risks/feasibility assessments; Risk analysis and mitigation measures; CVA best practices and recommendations to mentioned platforms; CfW guidance; Market Based Programming; Community Engagement and Accountability; feedback mechanisms; vulnerability analysis; Capacity assessments; Common delivery mechanism; digital identity and common beneficiary database; Multi-sector and sector specific market assessments; support to coordination/harmonization of CVA with sectors/other platforms; links between humanitarian and national or Social Protection actors.


Expected Outcome of the Deployment:
The support is limited in time and scope, with some deliverables agreed at request stage and others to be defined at the start of the deployment. The objectives of the CashCap Expert aim at supporting and strengthening CWG Coordinators work. CWG Coordinators will be the recipients of the Expert’s handover and will ensure sustainability of the achievements.

Specific Required Skills:
- Solid cash transfer experience and expertise in diverse and complex humanitarian settings, preferably in the Middle East region.
- Multi-sectoral coordination expertise in emergency settings.
- Seven years progressive experience in a humanitarian and/or development role, of which at least two years on cash assistance programming.
- Experience in market assessments, market analysis and/or cash and voucher feasibility assessment.
- Experience of financial Service Providers /delivery mechanism mapping and assessments.
- Understanding of monitoring requirements and accountability for cash programming.
- Analytical skills with respect to context, technical options and application of best practice within the operating environment.
- Ability to liaise with cluster/sector coordinators and to work in partnership to build consensus on mutually supportive objectives.
- Regional experience is an advantage.


OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Security Level:
3-Moderate

Overall Security Situation:
Security Situation in Jerusalem; Civil unrest occurs on a regular basis with sudden outbreaks of violence and rioting between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces (ISF). Harassment, acts of violence remain frequent in and around the Old City. ‘Lone-wolf’ attacks (e.g. stabbing, vehicle ramming, shooting) occur in the Old City and surrounding areas. Vehicular movements and travel in Ultraorthodox Jewish areas during Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) and Jewish Holidays can provoke an aggressive reaction from the community. UN personnel on a mission or residing in Jerusalem may be exposed to opportunistic crime, including burglary and petty theft, and occasional sexual harassment. During the current war in Gaza, rockets fired from Gaza reached Jerusalem and its outskirts, but were intercepted by the Air Defense Systems causing no damage or casualties. However risks of damages and injuries/ fatalities remain present due to the same.

Duty Travel:
Mainly based in Jerusalem but will require movement between Jerusalem and the WB when needed with no need to travel to Gaza.