Project Manager - Aswat Faeela (Consultancy)

Context 

British Council Syria is seeking the services of a Lebanon-based Project Manager from February to August 2018 for the Aswat Faeela (Active Voices) European Commission (EC)-funded youth development project. The latter initiative is moving into the closure phase.

The  aim  of  Aswat  Faeela  is  to  develop  young  Syrians’  social leadership skills and capacity through practical action both inside Syria, as well as in countries affected by  the  Syrian  crisis  (Lebanon,  Jordan,  and  Turkey),  and  to  give  them  a  voice  in  national  and international discourse about peace-building and community resilience as an anti-dote to the dominant narrative around the impact of conflict.  It adopts a two-fold approach: firstly to support emerging social leaders to work within their communities to find local solutions to issues that challenge them on a daily basis; and secondly, to build coalitions and advocate around common themes so that they are able to relate their experiences at the community  level  to  wider  political  and  policy  priorities  at  the  national  and  international  level.

The Project Manager will coordinate activities with consortium partners and facilitate the impact evaluation and exit plans to achieve the outcomes and ensure compliance with the British Council and the donor’s rules and regulations – both programmatically and financially. S/he will also support consistent and effective management of all aspects of project finances, ensuring rigorous financial control and complete, accurate and accessible information in compliance with clear financial, administrative and audit procedures, as well as monitor project spend against the agreed budget. S/he will work with consortium partners to ensure quality documentation is produced and disseminated according to necessary deadlines and standards of quality and completeness, as well as provide technical guidance on finance management and undertake troubleshooting and risk management, where relevant.

About British Council

The British Council manages international development projects worldwide, helping to create opportunities for people and societies to achieve positive change. As trusted international development partners, we work in a range of development sectors, including civil society, justice and security, education, skills and employability, and public sector reform. Working closely with governments, donor organisations, the private sector and civil society, we deliver value for money international development solutions that are both effective and sustainable.

In Syria, the British Council closed and suspended its operations in its Damascus office in 2012, having been present on the ground since 1943. Nonetheless, we have continued to deliver cultural relations programming in support of displaced Syrians through our neighbouring country offices and also remotely through local partners still operating inside Syria.

The current Syria Directorate is dispersed across four locations, with a primary hub in Beirut. It has a mandate to support host country offices to develop multi-country responses to the Syrian crisis, for overall coordination of the regional response to the crisis, and to develop viable long-term models and programmes for delivering impact back inside Syria.

Our vision for Syria is a peaceful and inclusive Syria - where conflict and change is managed in non-violent ways, the displaced feel safe to return, and all citizens have the opportunity to participate in the political, social and economic development of their country.

Project Overview

The British Council (BC) is the lead partner of Aswat Faeela (Active Voices), a 30-month multi-country Syrian youth development project, funded by the European Commission (EC). This project is implemented through international consortium partners and will be completed by 30 June 2018. The  aim  of  Aswat  Faeela  is  to  develop  young  Syrians’  social leadership skills and capacity through practical action both inside Syria, as well as in countries affected by  the  Syrian  Crisis  (Lebanon,  Jordan,  and  Turkey),  and  to  give  them  a  voice  in  national  and international discourse about peace-building and community resilience as an anti-dote to the dominant narrative around the impact of conflict.

The recruited consultant will be a key member of the British Council Syria team based in Beirut, Lebanon. S/He will be responsible for overall programmatic coordination, as well as administrative and financial management of the project, S/He will be reporting to the Team Leader and work in close coordination with consortium partners in the four Aswat Faeela countries of implementation (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey), and British Council colleagues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and in the United Kingdom (UK). Therefore, s/he is required to demonstrate excellent project management and entrepreneurial spirit, a sound ability to monitor budgets in line with the EC and BC financial compliance standards, excellent organisational skills, as well as team working and persuasive and assertive communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders.

Main Opportunities/Challenges for this Consultancy:

• Closely work in a highly performing team consisting of internal colleagues across British Council regionally, locally and in the UK
• Coordinate with consortium partners’ project and finance teams on programmatic aspects and grants management
• Ensure effective communications across stakeholders and key relationships, both within British Council regionally, locally and in the UK, and within consortium partners. This includes remote management.
• Assist in the impact evaluation of the Aswat Faeela project within a multi-country remit; Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey 
• Manage all aspects of coordination and delivery, compliance, risk and finances for the Aswat Faeela project
• Comply with British Council and EC standard procedures to ensure contract delivery and eligibility.   
• Manage all aspects of coordination and delivery, compliance, risk and finances for the Aswat Faeela project and maintain an audit trail.

Main Accountabilities:

Project Management

• Coordinate with consortium partners and provide regular and clear communication, supporting the achievement of the project activities
• Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of the project activities
• Closely work with Team Leader on project work plans planning and implementation
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met 
• Participate in all meetings with a) consortium partners’ project team and b) BC Syria team
• Ensure information and records management is done in compliance with British Council policies and procedures
• Ensure that logistical arrangements are in place for overall project activity, meetings and workshops
• Work with Team Leader on the closure phase of the project and relevant reporting and potentially a phase two planning targeted at various stakeholders.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Support the project team in gathering data and results for reporting purposes
• Ensure that the projects M&E plan is properly coordinated and implemented accordingly
• Support the impact evaluation of the project and closely work with Team Leader, British Council Technical Advisor, consortium partners’ project teams and consultants on achieving M&E standards.

Finance and Grant Management

• Support consistent and effective management of all aspects of project finances, ensuring rigorous financial control in compliance with clear financial, administrative and audit procedures, as well as monitor project spend against the agreed budget
• Ensure consortium partners’ grants are properly evaluated contributing to a robust evidence base and undertake expenditure reconciliation on a quarterly basis
• Work with consortium partners to ensure quality documentation is produced and disseminated according to necessary deadlines and standards of quality and completeness, as well as provide technical guidance on finance management and resolve problems on an ad hoc basis.
• Prepare and maintain financial plans and forecasts, highlighting problem areas and potential risks to the Team Leader; provide troubleshooting support and risk management
• Contribute to the analysis of financial information and preparation of internal and client reports ensuring they are accurate, complete and timely.
• Ensure that financial functions within the BC Lebanon office and with BC Syria are carried out in accordance with British Council rules under the project.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Aswat Faeela Team Leader
• Deputy Country Director
• British Council Syria team
• British Council local, regional and UK Education and Society teams (finance, project management, technical advisors, etc.)

External

• Consortium partners
• European Commission delegation
• Jordan local partner
• Suppliers and consultants

Applications

• The profile of the applicant(s) must meet the following requirements:
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in development sector in an international or local organisation leading and managing projects, demonstrating good planning, financial management, communications, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.  (Essential)
• Sound financial administration and partners grant management experience and a track record of on-the-job experience in similar positions. (Essential)
• High command of English and Arabic (spoken and written) (Essential)
• Ability to work in a multi-partner/multi-country consortium project and multi-cultural environment  (Essential)
• Proven experience in youth development/capacity building projects  (Desirable)
• Proven experience in working on the Syria Response (in Syria and neighbouring host countries) (Desirable)
• A minimum of 2 years of working experience in development in regional programmes (Desirable)