Protection Mobile Outreach Worker (South)

PROGRAM SUMMARY: The conflict that began more than three years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families or in rented accommodation.  As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement.  A growing programmatic focus is on mitigating the emerging tensions between hosts and refugees, particularly over economic resources, by addressing both livelihood opportunities and conflict mitigation capacity.  UNHCR recently calculated that approximately 34% of refugees have specific protection needs including women and children at-risk, and survivors of GBV. In response, Mercy Corps and Heartland Alliance International (HAI) will initiate a one-year project with the following goal: refugees and vulnerable host community members at extreme risk, including survivors of GBV in South Lebanon, are free from harm and benefit from an improved quality of life. The proposed project will develop and strengthen GBV and related mental health referral pathways in South Lebanon to improve access for survivors to critical lifesaving services, and build the capacity of three local organizations working on GBV issues. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The Protection Mobile Outreach Worker will be the first representative of Mercy Corps and the project amongst the local community. He/she will closely work with local communities, NGOs, local authorities and other civic or community groups to ensure that Mercy Corps and the project have widespread acceptance and facilitate achieving the impact of the project. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Project Implementation: Foster and maintain positive relationships with local communities, NGOs, local authorities and other civic or community groups; Liaise with key stakeholders to build Mercy Corps acceptance within local communities to facilitate project implementation, including informing the wider community actors about Mercy Corps’ programming, as well as with relevant Mercy Corps staff to ensure programmatic synergies; Conduct regular monitoring and generate monitoring report on qualitative and quantitative progress of project; Carry out field assessments; Assist in planning field trips and other meetings; Assist in raising local project visibility and promotion of achievements through effective media;  Organize community meetings according to principles of inclusion and transparency; Participate in monitoring and evaluation system design and implementation for all aspects of the project, including monitoring  project progress by developing and applying monitoring tools; Contribute to weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting; Ensure that all required documentation from field work is prepared professionally and properly filed; Establish and maintain a comprehensive filing system for the mobilization activities including project documents, monitoring notes and photos; Provide written and verbal translation of documents, project papers, at meetings, etc. as requested; 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 assigned tasks, as necessary.   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:  Protection-related projects experience preferred; Gender-based Violence projects experience preferred; Strong understanding of refugee issues in the current Lebanon context; Excellent communications skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues and ability to work with refugee and host community populations; Written and oral communication skills in English preferred; Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving; Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members; Significant knowledge and understanding of the current political, economic, cultural and historical context of South Lebanon preferred; Key Performance Areas: The successful Protection Mobile Outreach Worker will community outreach skills and experience in protection and GBV programming. S/he will have an outstanding ability to communicate verbally and create positive working relationships based on trust and transparency with target communities, and other stakeholders. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and working independently 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.