Information Field Officer

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international humanitarian nongovernmental organisation which provides assistance and protection to refugees and internally displaced persons in over twenty countries worldwide. NRC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, initially assisting displaced Lebanese. In early March 2012, NRC commenced its Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance ICLA (ICLA) programme in Lebanon, with a focus on assisting refugees and displaced persons to understand and enjoy their rights. Initially providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (Palestinian Response), since May 2012 ICLA has also been implementing a programme throughout Lebanon targeting those affected by displacement from Syria. Under its Syrian response, NRC currently works through seven community centres around Lebanon (two in the North, three in the Bekaa, one in the South and one in Mount Lebanon), as well as through extensive outreach.  NRC has recently initiated activities in the Beirut and Mount area, providing information, counselling and legal assistance to people who are affected by displacement as a result of the crisis in Syria; develops understanding of the protection and legal issues affecting the target communities, and, in coordination with other actors, identifies ways to address them. JOB PURPOSE The Information Field Officers are responsible for developing and organising ICLA activities in BML (in their designated area) and for providing quality information and counselling to beneficiaries and, through this work, developing better understanding of the protection situation for the target communities. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Management Responsibilities Provide direct supervision of Information Field Assistants in BML, in close coordination with Senior Information Field Officer; Responsible for managing the performance of staff under his / her supervision, including working with the staff members to set and monitor objectives and workplans, and provide constructive feedback on an on-going and scheduled basis; Responsible for conducting recruitment for those positions under his / her responsibility and in doing so identifying appropriately qualified staff in a timely manner, in liaison with the ICLA Project Coordinator and Human Resources in BML. Project Implementation and Management Develop and manage a weekly activity plan for the provision of information sessions at the community centre and through outreach, which clearly identify roles and responsibilities of ICLA team members; Responsible for developing materials to be used in ICLA field activities, in liaison with the Senior Information Field Officer and the Information Field Assistants, ensuring that they are consistent with materials being developed elsewhere by ICLA in Lebanon, through close liaison with ICLA Management and other field offices; Develop and implement effective ways of publicising ICLA's services amongst target communities, in accordance with the ICLA structure and under the guidance of the Senior Information Field Officer; Services Mapping: Gather information on activities being implemented by other humanitarian actors in BML, and provides it to the Senior Information Field Officer in order to maintain a clear, comprehensive and up-to-date written mapping of services; Information and Counselling Services: Provide inputs to the Senior Information Field Officer on technical issues and questions that arise during the course of information and counselling activities; As necessary, assist the ICLA team in BML in providing information and counselling to beneficiaries on how to access basic services through individual and group information sessions conducted in the community centre and through outreach, in accordance with ICLA structure and guidance, and agreed workplans; Provide information and counselling to beneficiaries on legal issues (currently NRC's legal focus is on legal status and documentation, including birth registration, and Housing, Land and Property rights), in accordance with ICLA structure and guidance, and agreed workplans; Legal Assistance: In close liaison with the Legal Field Officer (and / or legal focal points, as relevant), arrange appointments with ICLA lawyers and appropriately manage ICLA's legal assistance cases, in accordance with ICLA structure, guidelines and principles. Project Cycle Management Needs Assessment: Provide inputs to the Senior Information Field Officer on information, legal and protection needs of target communities that are identified during the course of information and counselling activities; Project Planning: Develop monthly and weekly activity plans for ICLA in BML, in accordance with NRC project commitments; Assist in identifying suitable locations for the ICLA activities (including outreach work, and additional community centres, as applicable); Monitoring and Evaluation: As requested, provide inputs into the design and standardisation of forms, questionnaires and other templates used to document ICLA's activities in the fiel; In liaison with the Senior Information Field Officers in BML, ensure that the ICLA Field team in BML understand the purpose, and consistently use the agreed templates and tools to document ICLA's activities in the field; Responsible for ensuring that the ICLA team in his / her designated area in BML consistently use agreed templates and  tools to document ICLA's activities in the field; Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the satisfactory progress, quality, efficiency and accountability of ICLA's activities in BML, in accordance with the agreed monitoring and evaluation plan for BML; Undertake monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the satisfactory progress, quality, efficiency and accountability of ICLA's activities in BML, in accordance with the agreed monitoring and evaluation plan for BML; Budget and Financial Management: Follow agreed NRC and donor guidelines and procedures in completing financial transactions, as required by the Senior Information Field Office; Reporting: Draft regular reports on ICLA activities in BML, providing clear, concise and accurate updates on ICLA's activities and on gaps, challenges and opportunities and suggestions as how to respond to them. in accordance with ICLA reporting templates and guidance, submitting them to the Senior Information Field Officer for review in a timely manner. Coordination ICLA: Provide an example for Information Field Assistants, and build and maintain positive and effective relationships with all ICLA colleagues in BML through regular and effective communication;  Contribute ideas and enthusiasm towards ensuring a positive morale and professional satisfaction amongst the ICLA team in BML; As requested, participate in meetings with other members of the ICLA programme in Lebanon; Participate in team meetings with the ICLA team in BML, exchanging information and discussing ICLA's response to challenges and identifying lessons learned; NRC: Build and maintain positive and effective relationships with colleagues in other core competencies (programmes) and departments, and, as relevant, find ways of collaborating to further enhance the effectiveness of NRC activities in BML; Develop an understanding of the strategic objectives, methods and activities of ICLA elsewhere in Lebanon, and of other NRC core competencies (programmes) and be able to present these to others within ICLA or amongst other audiences, as applicable; Other Humanitarian Actors: Liaise on a working-level with other humanitarian actors in order to coordinate activities and exchange information, including attending meetings as requested by the Senior Information Field Officer and ICLA Field Coordinator;  Follow established referral pathways and procedures in BML in close liaison with other humanitarian actors (including the UN, other NGOs, and where relevant, assist in the establishment of these; Host Communities and Beneficiaries Maintain positive relationships with focal points in host and beneficiary communities through timely and clear sharing of information; Work cooperatively with the beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the project. Context and Needs Assessments Assist the Assessments team in preparing for and conducting stand-alone assessments in BML. Strategy Responsible for developing his / her understanding of the strategy of the ICLA programme in BML, under the guidance of the ICLA Field Coordinator. Technical Quality and Consistency Be receptive to technical advice from ICLA Management; Provide daily technical guidance to the Information Field Officers on the delivery of routine ICLA activities in BML; Provide inputs to the Senior Information Field Officer on technical issues and questions which arise during the conduct of ICLA activities in the field. Protection Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and applies protection principles and NRC guidance to daily activities.  Operations and Administration Undertake routine administrative tasks, as requested by the Senior Information Field Officer and ICLA Field Coordinator; Assist the Senior Information Field Officer in preparing procurement requests in accordance with NRC procedures; Assist the ICLA Field Coordinator in ensuring that ICLA activities and staff are conducted in accordance with NRC security procedures; Responsible for ensuring that he / she understands and follows NRC security and safety guidance at all times; Assist the Senior Information Field Officer in maintaining an organised and up-to-date filing / archiving system in BML, in accordance with the ICLA filing structure and principles of confidentiality and protection. Other Perform any other duties as required by the Senior Information Field Officer and the ICLA Field Coordinator. QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Educational Requirements A Bachelors degree in Law, International Relations or Social Sciences (desirable) Experience and Skills Requirements At least 2 years' experience of experience working in similar positions  in the humanitarian / development sector; Experience in legal and / or protection work in a humanitarian context (desirable) Experience of providing information and counselling services (desirable) Experience of community sensitisation (desirable) Experience of preparing reports (desirable) Experience of managing staff (desirable)  Additional Skills and Qualities Ability to work under pressure and to be flexible Ability to work independently, and to be proactive in seeking support when needed Ability to communicate effectively orally in Arabic and in English Proficiency in use of computers and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Team spirit and a sense of humour