Liaison Manager-ZAHLE

ABOUT THE STRUCTURE…

Solidarités International (SI) is an International NGO working with vulnerable populations, mainly victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Specialized for nearly 40 years in the coverage of vital needs, S.I. takes charge of emergency and reconstruction programs.

With respect for cultures and close to the people, Solidarités International implements its programs by combining its skills with those of its employees and local managers.

Solidarités International's teams, made up of around 270 expatriates and nearly 2200 local employees, are today present in 18 countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Caribbean where they are particularly committed to fighting diseases related to unsafe water but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM), the Liaison Manager plays a major role in fostering local ownership and sustainability of the AFD (Agence Francaise de Developpement) DRM (Disaster Risk Management) project though initiating and maintaining a transparent dialogue with different stakeholders in the project, throughout the project duration.

With a specific focus on SI’s role in the AFD DRM project, the Liaison Manager is responsible for initiating and maintaining a dialogue with relevant project stakeholders with the objective to:

• Ensure the understanding of the AFD DRM project and SIs mandate
• Encouraging inter-communal coordination within the target river basin (Ghzayel river basin in Bekaa)

As part of the mission, the position is also contributing to the development of a contextualised “exit strategy” of the project.

The main challenges:

• Engaging with a wide range of different stakeholders
• Navigating in a multi-tiered consortium project aiming at creating a replicable model on a river basin level for disaster risk management

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Develop a stakeholder engagement strategy and plan of action for the target River Basin
• Ensure field-level coordination and relations with key stakeholders within the targeted River Basin
• Develop a close collaboration with consortium partners on field level

Responsibilities and main activities:

Planning, implementation and operational monitoring

• Responsible for developing and maintaining a planning for interactions with stakeholders on a River Basin level
• Identifying the need for, organise and facilitate and/or co-facilitate trainings and/or awareness sessions and other meetings with stakeholders on a River Basin level
• Raising the awareness of the project among stakeholders (how needs were identified, objectives and outcomes) in target areas (ITS and municipalities). Awareness raising including already implemented work, planned work and updates on work in progress.
• Closely following the progress of implemented work under SI responsibility with the objective to update project stakeholders
• Contributing to capturing and documenting any lessons learned relevant to the purpose of the position
• Contributing to the coordination and exchange, led by the PM, with the other SI field base where the project is being implemented

Communication, representation and coordination

• Representing SI in any interaction with actors internal and external to the project
• Participating in and contributing to the coordination with other implementing actors external to the project within the River Basin
• Developing a close collaboration with the LRC teams working on implementing the CBDRM approach on a municipality level as part of the same project
• Contributing to the mapping of different actors active in the same River Basin (mapping developed in collaboration with LRC) with the objective to create and maintain and an updated stakeholder mapping for the project relevant for the respective River Basin level
• Contributing to the identification of most suitable communication channels for different groups of stakeholders, in collaboration with the LRC team. Supporting the PM in linking this information to the stakeholder mapping and update on any changes on a regular basis.
• Raising awareness of the AFD DRM project objectives including the roles of different stakeholders and their contributions to different phases of the project. Being familiar with and able to raise awareness on the objectives of different studies and approaches of the project.
• Compiling feedback and complaints relevant to the project arising from any discussion/meeting with stakeholders.

Fostering local ownership and sustainably of the project

• Fostering local participation and ownership of the project on a River Basis level, in close collaboration with LRC teams working on municipality level. This might include but is not limited to, ensuring that stakeholders are informed of and participate in meetings relevant to their respective roles in the project, ensuring feedback from different stakeholders is communicated to the PM, etc.
• Contribute to fostering inter-municipal cooperation within the River Basin in close coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) teams responsible for the implementation of the CBDRM approach on a municipality level
• Contribute in collaboration with the PM to the development of an “exit strategy” of the project

Reporting

• Share formalized information and progress with the PM on a regular basis  
• Contribute to progress reports and any other project related reports as requested by the PM

The list above is not strictly definitive; an employee working within the framework of these tasks may carry out other tasks if asked to do so by his/her line manager.

YOUR PROFILE

• Education:
  • Bachelor/Master Degree in social sciences/communication/law/political sciences
• Experience:
  • Minimum 2 years’ experience with an NGO specialized in humanitarian assistance with at least 1 year experience in a similar position liaising with various different stakeholders (local authorities, national and international NGOs, community members, etc.)
  • Good understanding of the project management cycle;
  • Experience in writing reports;
  • Experience in negotiation;
  • Experience designing and conducting trainings and awareness sessions;
  • Experience in community based Disaster Risk Management is an asset;

Competencies & skills

• Strong social and communication skills;
• Strong training/capacity-building skills;
• Strong negotiation skills;
• Strong demonstrated analytical skills;
• Ability to write clear and well-argued reports;
• Problem solving and with the ability to assess challenges and recommend solutions;
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;
• Excellent understanding of humanitarian principles, accountability, and do no harm;

Inter-personal skills and character:

• Solid organizational and communication skills;
• Willingness to work long hours;
• High sense of integrity, responsibility, and accountability;
• High level of autonomy, independence, ability to learn, and initiative (employee may occasionally be managed remotely).

Languages:

• Fluent in Arabic and English: speaking, reading and excellent writing skills required;
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: 1,650 USD

Vacation: 1.5 day of Annual leave / month

Social and medical cover: NSSF Coverage + Health Insurance

APPLICATION PROCESS

Does this description fit you?

Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only will not be considered. 

NB:  The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your comprehension 

For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website:  http://www.solidarites.org/en/