Senior Livelihoods Consultant

PROGRAM SUMMARY: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.  Mercy Corps is launching the “Improving Food and Agricultural Systems in the Bekaa (IFAS)” project.  The overall objective of the project is providing sustainable stabilization of food consumption for vulnerable households impacted by the Syrian crisis. The project will be implemented in the Beqaa and is funded by the World Food Programme /WFP for a period of 9 months. It will focus on improving access to food and income opportunities and reducing negative coping mechanisms for targeted households during project implementation.  Moreover, it will emphasis on collaborating with market actors within value chains—inputs providers, producers, agro-businesses, and end-buyers—in the agriculture sector to protect the incomes of small and medium producers. In addition, the project will strengthen coping mechanisms of both Lebanese and Syrian households through increased household resource management skills nutrition and food security.  Lastly, IFAS will help increase the household cash flow of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households through cash-for-work activities and also strengthen the agriculture infrastructure in the targeted areas. ENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The senior livelihoods Consultant will provide consultancy services to IFAS and ensure the implementation of the IFAS project. He/she will ensure that the project meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget.  He/she will closely work with farmers in Bekaa and IFAS’s consultants (Agricultural development, Agricultural training, small ruminant dairy development, small ruminant dairy training and others) to ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. He/She will provide advisory to the Project Manager on the agricultural and value chain component of the IFAS project in the Bekaa. The senior livelihoods Consultant will be responsible for working with small producers and agribusinesses to mobilize them and adopt improved production and marketing practices. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Advise on the targeted farmers selection Supervise on technical and equipment needs assessments Perform field visits throughout the growing season for insects, diseases, fertility, plant populations, irrigation scheduling, etc. Guides on proper timing of in-season fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, and foliar product application. Monitors on agricultural practices throughout the growing season and makes crop protection products, and seed recommendations Supervises the technical services of specialized goats and sheep production Recommends proper forage and pasture management Provides counseling in small-ruminants disease control and prevent malnutrition Provide assistantship on concepts of traditional and modern agricultural systems Monitor and maintain coordination with the village, sub district/district heads, government agencies and international and multilateral organizations for all areas where Mercy Corps operates Ensure all agriculture Projects activities are in line with government strategy Develop implementation work plan and monitor activities and their contribution to achieving Project deliverables Provides technical input on MC’s agriculture projects including partnerships with private sector, NGOs and international contractors Maintains links to sources of technical assistance and information and will disseminate technical information and assistance to Project officers, assistants and consultants (Agricultural development, Agricultural training, small ruminant dairy development, small ruminant dairy training and others) where necessary. Coordinate closely with the Livelihoods Project Manager, Regional Economic Opportunities Advisor, and other technical staff and operational staff to ensure project activities are integrated into an overall return plan. Maintain, monitor and measure project implementation data entry. Keeping the Livelihoods Project Manager and Coordinator informed at all times. Track project impact, standards, and operational compliance. Assist with overall project development and future proposals for project follow-on activity. Data-entry of project information, as assigned. Develop charts, statistical reports and data-bases as required by Project Manager. Implement Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity policy and applies Do No Harm approaches; Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Other duties as assigned. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Guides the work of the Project Officers, consultants and Assistant Project Officers ACCOUNTABILITY: WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Senior Training and CFW Project Officer, Project Officers, consultants Assistant Project Officers, Regional Economic Opportunities Advisor KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: Require B.A. with strong preference for a M.A. in Business Administration, Economics,  or Agriculture Economics, or Agriculture Trained in conducting and analyzing market analysis At least 10 years’ experience with livelihoods, private sector agricultural development programming, and market and value chain analysis Experience identifying and developing local partnerships, including with the private sector; Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles; Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving; Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a project to achieve stated results and objectives; Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders; Oral and written Arabic required Oral and written English skills preferred Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment; Willingness to travel throughout the Beqaa SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful “Senior livelihoods Consultant” will combine knowledge of small scale agriculture and food processing in the Beqaa with value chain work. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, and mentoring Assistant Project Officers. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving is essential in a complex security and political environment like Lebanon. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.  DURATION: Submission guidelines: Submission deadline: June 1, 2016.  1)      Consultant’s CV 2)      List of consultancies conducted in the last three years. Please include: Client name Brief description of services performed Client phone number and email Number of days worked Substantiated daily consulting rate A scan/copy of applicant’s registration at the Ministry of Finance In case applicant cannot provide this document, and is selected for this consultancy, Mercy Corps will deduct the 7.5% services tax imposed by the Ministry from submitted invoices. Payment: In bank checks or wire transfer, after the successful delivery of the service based on monthly invoices and timesheets submitted (to include work days and hours. 8 hours = full day and 4 hours = half a day), with an approved consultant deliverable report.  Incidentals, including transportation, per diems and communications costs, will not be covered separately by Mercy Corps, as they should be included in the consultant’s daily rate.