Remittances to Recover Modestly After Two Years of Decline

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WASHINGTON, October 3, 2017 – Remittances to low- and middle-income countries are on course to recover in 2017 after two consecutive years of decline, says the latest edition of the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, released today. The Bank estimates that officially recorded remittances to developing countries are expected to grow by 4.8 percent to $450 billion for 2017. Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, are projected to grow by 3.9 percent to $596 billion. The recovery in remittance flows is driven by relatively stronger growth in the European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States. As a result, those regions likely to see the strongest growth in remittance inflows this year are Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, fiscal tightening, due to low oil prices, and policies discouraging recruitment of foreign workers, will dampen remittance flows to East and South Asia. Among major remittance recipients, India retains its top spot, with remittances expected to total $65 billion this year, followed by China ($63 billion), the Philippines ($33 billion), Mexico (a record $31 billion), and Nigeria (($22 billion). In keeping with an improving global economy, remittances to low- and middle-income countries are expected to grow modestly by 3.5 percent in 2018, to $466 billion. Global remittances will grow by 3.4 percent to $616 billion in 2018. The global average cost of sending $200 remained stagnant at 7.2 percent in the third quarter of 2017.This was significantly higher than the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 3 percent. Sub-Saharan Africa, with an average cost of 9.1 percent, remains the highest-cost region. Two major factors contributing to high costs are exclusive partnerships between national post office systems and any single money transfer operator (MTO), which stifles market competition and allows the MTO to raise remittance fees, as well as de-risking by commercial banks, as they close bank accounts of MTOs, in order to cope with the high regulatory burden aimed at reducing money laundering and financial crime “Remittances are a lifeline for developing countries; this is particularly true following natural disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in Mexico and the storms devastating the Caribbean. It is imperative for the global community to reduce the cost of remitting money, by eliminating exclusivity contracts, especially in the high-income OECD countries. There is also an urgent need to address de-risking behavior of global banks,” said Dilip Ratha, lead author of the Brief and head of KNOMAD. In a special feature on forced and voluntary return migration, the Brief notes that the surge in refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants arriving in Europe is slowing. Even as European countries grapple with refugee and migrant flows, low- and middle-income countries continue to host more than 90 percent of refugees. It highlights the challenges of return and reintegration of migrants. Policies that promote voluntary return and successful reintegration back home include: recognition of skills and qualifications acquired abroad; the possibility of securing a permanent residency in the host country; anti-discrimination and equal access programs in the countries of origin; and portability of social benefits. «The fundamental drivers of the ongoing migration crisis – conflict, economic deprivation, demographic pressures and environmental change – need to be addressed. The World Bank is looking into policies and programs that will help tackle these issues,” said Michal Rutkowski, Senior Director of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank. The Brief presents the results of a survey, conducted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD), on recruitment costs paid by low-skilled migrant workers. Reducing recruitment costs is a part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of promoting safe, regular and orderly migration. Such costs can be exorbitantly high in some corridors. For example, a significant number of Pakistani construction workers in Saudi Arabia reportedly paid over $5,000 to recruitment agents, an amount equivalent to 20 months or more of earnings. Efforts to reduce recruitment costs would require curtailing the abuses and exploitation by illegal recruitment agencies, cooperation with bona fide overseas employers, and stronger bilateral coordination between labor sending and destination countries. Regional Remittance Trends Remittances to the East Asia and Pacific region are expected to rebound by 4.4 percent to $128 billion in 2017, reversing a decline of 2.6 percent in 2016. Remittances to the Philippines continue to remain resilient despite declining inflows from Saudi Arabia. Remittances to Vietnam, largely sourced from the United States, are also anticipated to recover this year, while flows to Indonesia will continue to shrink due to a government ban on female domestic workers to the Middle East. Growth in remittances to the region will be a modest 3.4 percent in 2018 to $132 billion. After declining for three consecutive years, remittances to countries in the Europe and Central Asia region are expected to grow by 8.6 percent to $43 billion this year. The recovery is mainly due to the appreciation of the Russian ruble against the dollar. Going forward, the economic recovery in Russia, continued recovery in Kazakhstan, and increased employment in the Euro Area imply a more positive outlook for remittances for the region, which are expected to grow by a robust 6.8 percent to $46 billion in 2018. Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to increase by 6.9 percent to $79 billion in 2017.  Economic growth and improvement in the labor market in the United States is having a positive impact on the outlook for remittance flows to Mexico, which will receive a record $31 billion this year. Growth in remittances has been particularly strong in Central America. However, growth in remittances to the region will moderate in 2018 to $82 billion. After two years of decline, remittances to the Middle East and North Africa region are expected to grow by 4.6 percent to $51 billion this year, largely driven by strong flows to Egypt, the region’s largest recipient, in response to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound. The growth outlook is, however, dampened by lower growth in the GCC due to oil production cuts and fiscal consolidation. Remittances to the region will grow by 2.9 percent to $53 billion in 2018. Remittances growth to the South Asia region will be moderate at 1.1 percent to $112 billion this year, due to continuing impact of lower oil prices and ‘nationalization’ polices leading to constrained labor market conditions in the GCC. Remittances to India, the world’s largest remittance recipient, will grow by 4.2 percent in 2017 to $65 billion, following a decline of nine percent in 2016. Flows to Pakistan are expected to remain flat this year, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal will see a decline. Remittances to the region will grow by a weak 2.6 percent to $114 billion in 2018.   Buoyed by improved economic activity in high-income OECD countries, remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa are projected to grow by a robust 10 percent to $38 billion this year. The region’s major remittance receiving countries, Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana, are all set for growth. The region is also host to a number of countries where remittances account for a significant share of GDP, including Liberia (26 percent), Comoros (21 percent), and the Gambia (20 percent). Remittances will grow by a moderate 3.8 percent to $39 billion in 2018.     The Migration and Development Brief and the latest migration and remittances data are available at www.knomad.org Interact with migration experts at http://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/

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  • Colombia: Deputy Director for Programs

    Organization: International Rescue Committee
    Country: Colombia
    Closing date: 01 Apr 2019

    BACKGROUND:

    The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

    IRC COLOMBIA

    A combined two decades of economic mismanagement, a drop in oil prices, and the deterioration of democratic institutions has resulted in a humanitarian crisis inside Venezuela. Insecurity has manifested following protests in April 2017 against the president and his government, particularly for failing to address the growing inflation rate which lead to large-scale food insecurity. The demonstrations were initially peaceful but grew in severity of violence as time passed. Venezuela’s economic devastation worsened in the last half of 2017. This caused a massive migration of Venezuelans into neighboring Colombia in search of affordable food, medicine and work. The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia has increased to more than one million people.

    In response, the IRC has launched emergency programming in Colombia, focusing on an integrated response involving child protection, women’s protection and empowerment activities, primary and reproductive healthcare, and cash transfer programming. The IRC is in the process of delivering these and future activities directly in Colombia, and in partnership with local civil society organizations in Venezuela. In Colombia, IRC currently has operations in Cucuta, and Medellin, and is soon to expand to Bogota and Barranquilla.

    Length of Assignment: 2 years

    PLEASE SUBMIT AN ENGLISH CV.

    JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY:

    The position of Deputy Director of Programs (DDP) is a member of the Senior Management Team and is integral to the successful implementation of IRC’s programs in Colombia. Working under the direction of the Country Director (CD), the DDP is responsible for overall program direction and implementation within the program framework, government policies and strategies, and in compliance with donor regulations, specifically in the areas of a) grant management b) program development, quality and implementation c) day-to-day representation with donor agencies and local and international stakeholders, and d) Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.

    The DDP will spearhead the development and execution of the Country Strategic Plan and also be responsible for supervising the Health, Child Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development and Grants Coordinator. This position will work closely and collaboratively with the different departments within the country program, the IRC technical advisors and the IRC Emergency Unit.

    The DDP will be based in Bogota, Colombia, with frequent travel to Cucuta, Medellin, Barranquilla, and any other national sites in Colombia where IRC designs and develops programming.

    MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

    Program Strategy, Design and Fundraising

    • Lead the operationalization of the current IRC Colombia response strategy and actively engage in strategic planning processes for the longer term.
    • Ensure, with Coordinators, and HQ-based Technical Unit staff, that project design reflects IRC program quality standards and industry best practices.
    • Lead efforts for sustainable program growth, proactively identifying opportunities for new programming initiatives and emphasizing multi-year funding to support them.
    • Provide leadership support to the program and grants teams to develop competitive, evidence-based and cost-effective funding applications.
    • Provide guidance, strategies and tools to ensure that program choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, a thorough understanding of context, technical best practices, and operational viability.
    • Formulate integrated program initiatives so that technical sectors complement each other and promote mainstreaming of protection principles and gender-responsive approaches.

    Program Management – Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

    • Provide overall leadership and management of IRC Colombia program portfolio, ensuring strategically coherent program direction, well-managed growth, and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.
    • Continually seek out ways to build the capacities of the program team members, individually and collectively.
    • Ensure that detailed, realistic and feasible project implementation plans are developed, and modified as needed, in collaboration with the Program Coordinators and Operations team.
    • Coordinate with other members of the Senior Management Team on appropriate management, compliance and performance standards, as well as effective systems for budget management, knowledge management and risk management.
    • Support programming staff to collect, document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices, incorporating these into new project designs.
    • With program staff, develop effective and appropriate M&E plans, including methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis and reporting.
    • Review M&E and accountability data with program staff to identify and address areas for operational improvement.

    Grants Management

    • Provide strategic direction in terms of development of a funding strategy, widening and strengthening donor base, ensuring quality grants management, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, ensuring quality information management related to programs/ grants, and supporting directly in all aspects of the proposal development and reporting processes.
    • Supervise all internal, external and reporting with programs and finance, ensuring high-quality, well-written and timely reports meeting donor and IRC and partner requirements; conduct thorough reviews and/or revisions of all external reports compiled by the Grants Coordinator.
    • Ensure that Program Coordinators and Grants Senior Manager conduct routine monitoring visits to implementation sites to ensure donor compliance and quality program implementation.
    • Coordinate with the Program Coordinators and Grants and Finance teams to ensure sound budget management, expense control and timely contractual documentation.
    • Support the Grants Senior Manager to lead Grant Opening and Grant Closing Meetings with all relevant department and units and to ensure they take place on time. Also ensure that programming staff are well trained to properly manage project budgets.
    • Ensure that the program coordinators review BvAs on a regular basis; provide leadership and management support to ensure effective monthly grant review meetings.
    • Mitigate any potential risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that programming staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.

    External Representation and Advocacy

    • Develop a sound understanding of the IRC’s programs to be able to professionally represent the IRC to implementing partners, the government and donors;
    • Assist the Country Director developing strong relationships with donors, assisting with visits and in the development of appropriate advocacy actions;
    • Forge and maintain solid cooperation with partner organizations through regular communication, cooperation and, where appropriate, joint decision-making.
    • Act as the focal point for program-related communication between IRC country programs in the region and worldwide offices.
    • Identify funding opportunities and track them in collaboration with the technical teams.
    • Oversee programmatic inputs to advocacy efforts both in-country and globally.

    Staff Management and Development

    • Provide guidance and supervision to the technical coordinators, M&E Manager, the grants senior manager, information officers; to discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback on performance of direct reports, including timely implementation of performance management system.
    • Create a supervisory environment focused on the achievement of team and individual results that emphasizes the importance of learning, productivity, accountability and openness
    • Adhere to IRC’s performance management system, providing regular, timely and thoughtful coaching, feedback, performance assessment, and professional development for all direct reports, while making sure that they do the same for their direct reports.
    • Build capacities of programming staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are utilized on the job.
    • Manage recruitment, hiring and development of high-performing national staff to assume greater levels of responsibility.
    • Provide leadership support for the successful implementation of and adherence to the IRC Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

    PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

    The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

    As a leader you will be placed in a position of trust. To maintain that trust, you are expected to always:

    • Lead by example and be a positive role model to others.
    • Promote awareness of the IRC’s standards and make sure those you supervise are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to comply with them.
    • Monitor conduct of those you supervise and take responsibility for activities that occur under your supervision.
    • Be responsive to anyone who raises an ethics or compliance concern and make sure matters are resolved in a fair and appropriate manner.

    KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

    • Country Director, Colombia and Venezuela
    • Other Colombia-based staff, including operations, finance, and grants
    • Technical Advisors (based globally) and any roster staff required to support program staff inside Venezuela
    • Awards Management Unit to support all compliance and reporting for partners, as well as proposals
    • Global Supply Chain to procure goods and support partners to procure
    • Communications and Advocacy units to support any key messages at external meetings
    • Global Security to support any risk analysis and mitigation
    • Emergency Unit

    REQUIREMENTS

    Master’s degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences or a similar field;

    Minimum eight years of management experience working in a humanitarian or development setting with a minimum of five years of INGO program management experience.

    Experience in managing protection, ERD and/or health, and experience working in partnership with local organizations, is strongly desired.

    Proven ability to develop winning proposals to public and private-sector donors;

    Familiarity and experience with US and European, donors;

    Previous experience managing programs financed by US government agencies, DFID, EU, foundations and private donors a must, with previous experience in competitive environments a plus.

    Proven ability to manage projects to completion on time, within budget, and with the anticipated results.

    Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.

    Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching. Strong leadership, motivational and team-building skills;

    Proven fluency in English and Spanish a must

    How to apply:

    https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/jobdetails.aspx?site=1&c=rescue&id=3988

  • Colombia: Oficial Grants

    Organization: Save the Children
    Country: Colombia
    Closing date: 10 Mar 2019
    TITULO DEL PUESTO: Oficial Grants

    EQUIPO/PROGRAMA: Desarrollo de programas y Calidad

    UBICACION: Bogotá

    GRADO: 4 – oficiales

    Tipo de Contrato: Término Definido a 31 de dic…

  • Brazil: Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate, GS-6, Brasília, Brazil post# 109567

    Organization: UN Children’s Fund
    Country: Brazil
    Closing date: 07 Mar 2019

    UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

    Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

    And we never give up.

    For every child, make a difference

    The Corporate Partnerships team has ambitious fundraising targets and outcomes to be reached based on market potential and building on successful results of 2018. Our aim and vision are to develop, manage and enhance the fundraising potential of working with businesses in Brazil and a core part of achieving this vision is the Corporate Alliances (CA) acquisition team (new business).

    After review, additional resource is being created to support the Acquisition (new business team) to embrace the new fundraising challenges and to reach the extra income success. The Corporate Alliances Acquisition Associate will support the CA Acquisition (new business) team with a strategic focus on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) alliance models. The role will have the objective to support the leverage of the flexible or non-fixed income fundraising potential to support both, the local and global UNICEF Programme.

    For further information, please visit www.unicef.org.br

    How can you make a difference?

    Under the supervision of the Corporate Fundraising Officer (Acquisition), the Acquisition Associate will undertake supporting tasks for new business such as:

  • Assist in specifying the pipeline and building corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models, but not exclusively in those formats.
  • Support in the initial preparation of proposals with the new business team.
  • Assist on the implementation of the alliances and on reaching planned results.

    • Join our team to be responsible for:

    1) Implementation of corporate alliances focused on customer engagement and cause related marketing (CRM) models and other acquisition campaigns:

  • Continuously map new corporate partnership opportunities, initiate contact with the companies’ focal points, and participate in the alliances’ prospecting processes;
  • Proceed with the Geneva clearance process on potential and current donor companies on a weekly basis;
  • Prepare and internally/externally approve the partnership contract; and keep corporate prospection planning documents update;
  • Follow up the delivering of annual reports to the partners and support in the negotiation of renewal focusing on the best results for UNICEF;
  • Support the planning and implementation processes of the corporate alliances campaigns by following up the milestones and results of it in collaboration with Market Services team;
  • Approach partners during emergency campaigns to explore additional fundraising opportunities;
  • Continuously research and test new and innovative ways of work to improve quality in results and to simplify procedures of processing the donations;
  • Monthly searching about competitors’ corporate alliances mechanisms and good practices, evaluating replicability;
  • Fortnightly, support plan and project pitches and campaigns with Marketing Services support and other related areas, including outsourced agencies.

    • 2) Suppliers relationship:

  • Assist and support in developing, drafting and maintaining contract information, monitoring reports and relationships with current and new providers involved in the corporate alliances through UNICEF;
  • Assist the development of new providers and follow up biding processes with Operations Sector / RM&P Associate as required;

  • Ensure that the providers’ payments are due and delivered on time.

    • 3) Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • Monitor and support the implementation of the corporate alliances campaigns to target audiences and participate in the evaluation of their impact. Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of each campaign materials/channels;
  • Support and monitor the level of fulfilment and success in donations processing, by analyzing and studying the best way to improve it;
  • Conduct the target and results analysis and control. Continuously monitoring campaign goals and marketing metrics related to customer engagement;

  • Compile lessons learned and support the review of successful and unsuccessful campaigns.

    • 4) Assignments of additional administrative duties and responsibilities:

  • Map potential companies from different segments and support on organizing the list of priority companies to be reached and prospected on a monthly basis;
  • Research about the prospected companies and support the evaluation of fundraising opportunities;
  • Assist the preparation of periodical corporate alliances fundraising reports, monitor and maintain control of records and results;

  • Develop, organize and maintain up-to-date data, information, record documents and control plans for the monitoring of project implementation; maintains library of corporate alliances reference materials.

    • To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Completion of secondary education preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization. A University degree is desirable (Business Administration, International Relations, Economics or Marketing);
  • At least six years of professional experience related to corporate fundraising, clients’ engagement, partnership development, or marketing;
  • Experience in retail sales is an asset
  • Fluency in Portuguese and English. Knowledge of Spanish will be considered as an asset

    • For every Child, you demonstrate

    UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

    The technical competencies required for this post are Relating and networking (I), Persuading and influencing (II), Planning and organizing (I) and Following Instructions and Procedures (II)

    View our competency framework at

    http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

    UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

    Remarks:

    Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

    Candidates must be Brazilian citizens or have a valid work permit.

    All candidates who wish to apply to this Vacancy Announcement are requested to prepare and submit their application in English.

    How to apply:

    UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520028

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