Development Program Associate

Mada is seeking a Development Program Associate who will be in charge of facilitating sessions with municipalities in order to develop forest management plan as well as implementing activities linked to these plans (50% of time); while supporting in parallel Mada’s Executive Coordinator and Program Director in the overall monitoring and coordination of running projects as well as the development of new projects (50% of time). The position entails an average 40 percent fieldwork and 60 percent office work. Overall Mission and Responsibilities: 1.      Developing forest management plan (Lebanese Reforestation Initiative Project) - Analyse communities in 11 villages in Lebanon; Identification and analysis of stakeholders; Community context analysis; Identification of constraints and opportunities at each stage; Preparation of a preliminary community engagement strategy for concerned villages - Participate in brainstorming sessions aiming to set the basis for the development of a strategy for implementation of the action plan (2 days, 21 and 22 May 2013) - Conceive tools for the workshops / roundtables -Facilitate roundtables to bring together representatives of different stakeholder groups. - Ensure good and closed relations with municipalities - Draft and finalize the action plans for the 11 villages 2.      Supporting Mada’s management team in project development and implementation - Assist the project management team in conceiving and developing ideas for project proposals - Proposal writing: Project descriptions and actions according to the required formats by different funding agencies - Participate in implementation of projects in coordination project management team (preparation of action plans and continuous updating thereof, foreseeing necessary modifications and related communication with funding agencies) - Produce, in coordination with the project management team, progress, interim and final activity reports to funding agencies - Support project management team in monitoring and evaluation - Represent the organization in external meetings - Field visits to running projects   Competencies and Experience: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in project cycle management and proposal writing  Experience in conducting focus groups and community mobilization in deprived rural communities Knowledge of the developmental sector in Lebanon and experience in working with NGO's  Excellent verbal and written communication skills  Analytical and conceptual thinking Excellent organizational capacities and the ability to multitask (interact with different projects and different people)  Excellent social and interpersonal skills  Initiative, involvement and commitment Ability to commit to deadlines and produce quality work in a short timeframe  Acting in a diplomatic way, representing Mada’s non-religious, non-political and non-sectarian principles and respect for diversity, gender and child rights  Patience