MSMEs and Employment Specialist

The MSME and Employment Specialist will contribute to the implementation of a livelihood project in Tripoli. This project is funded by BMZ and implemented by three local partners (TEC, SHIFT, and Ruwwad al Tanmeya). The project aims to enhance economic resilience of marginalized communities and individuals in Tripoli, Lebanon, in particular of youth (f/m) and women from refugee and non-refugee households.

The intervention will be done through three approaches: (1) Engaging communities by providing psycho-social support, vocational training and apprenticeships, (2) Engaging business owners and entrepreneurs, (3) Engaging local CSOs through building their capacities. This approach aims to contribute to the enhancement of economic and self-resilience within several communities in Tripoli, including but not limited to, Qobbe, Tebbane and Jabal Mohsen.

CARE International in Lebanon (CiL) supports local businesses and individuals. The MSME and employment Specialist will primary contribute to the achievement of the first goal by supporting the incubation and acceleration of existing and scalable self-employed and Nano enterprises. This will start by conducting an appropriate assessment of the business entity in order to draft an organizational development plan. Then, the specialist will ensure that the business entity will get a facilitated access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability. He will also work on the employability component by identifying potential opportunities and placement arrangements for vulnerable people.

Project Implementation

• Pro-actively work toward reaching the project objectives, i.e. strengthening the employability of vulnerable individuals, identifying potential opportunities and placement arrangements, building the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access available economic opportunities and facilitating access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability.
• Support to MSMEs:
  • deliver the BDS support to the MSME beneficiaries and monitor outputs by coaching the owner on technical skills and measure their improvement
  • Develop, update and follow up a detailed work plan, in line with donor agreement and in agreement with the CARE Livelihoods Project Manager and SME specialist
• Employability:
  • Follow up with recommended profiles to ensure eligibility for the apprenticeship component of the programCoach partners on evaluating applications to apprenticeships, prepare & conduct induction interview/sessions
  • Coach partners on support in the hosting entity identification component (for the apprenticeship as well as the job placement components) of the project when required
  • conduct regular spot checks visits, calls, etc.
  • Oversee the apprenticeship process
  • Coach partners on job placement by following up on the process and making sure proper implementation of the SOPs
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to provide support when needed to ensure quality implementation
• Ensure that project activities operate within the policies and procedures of the organization
• Oversee the collection and maintenance of data of the program for statistical purposes according to the confidentiality/privacy policy of the organization
• Ensure the high quality of the data collected during the assessments, baseline and other quality assurance tools.
• Follow up with partner NGOS/community focal points about the project activities.
• Other tasks associated with the above may arise

Reporting & Information sharing

• Support with drafting narrative and quantitative reports as per CARE internal requirements and donor requirements.
• Ensure internal communication and information sharing on project with relevant staff (Socio-economic Development Coordinator, livelihood manager & SME specialist, Communication, M&E team etc.).

Representation and Coordination

• Support the Project Manager in ensuring CARE representation in the relevant technical coordination meetings at field level and all relevant fora at field level and vis-à-vis relevant actors and partners as relevant to the project (MSME/Private Sector, municipalities, UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, community focal points, etc.)
• Support in the organization of field visits by donors, peer agencies, CARE Members, Media, etc.
• The specialist will also have to fulfill any other task as requested by her/his supervisor depending on the programmatic priorities in the Field Office

M&E & Quality Assurance 

• Work closely with the MEAL department to track the quantitative and qualitative results against the planned outcomes by defining M&E approaches, progress tracking and performance indicators for SMEs productivity, job creation, etc.
• Measure the improvement of Apprenticeship scheme, job creation, job placement, etc.
• Coaching measurement of MSME owner improvement in technical and personal characteristics
• Filing system in place and according to donor regulations

Experience required: 4 years’ minimum experience with INGOs in MSME support, apprenticeship programs Livelihoods which would include experience with the following activities: 

• Extensive knowledge about Nano enterprise and Tripoli local economy context
• Working with vulnerable people in slums and vulnerable areas
• Experience in the implementation of Youth employability Projects (Job placement, apprenticeship, etc.

Requirements - Must be based in North Lebanon

Education degree: Bachelor’s degree or Masters

Field of education: Business, Economics, Management or another related field.