Project Advisor CIP

Job Profile

1. Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications:

• A university degree in Urban Planning, Development studies or related disciplines. Post-graduate qualifications are an asset.

Professional experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience, three years of which should have been at a supervisory level and in projects involving participatory planning processes with local communities.
•  Outstanding knowledge in community participation and context in Lebanon
•  Knowledge of Palestinian refugee camps is an asset.

Other knowledge, additional competences:

• Fluent spoken and written skills in English & Arabic
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a multi-cultural team and showing very good teamwork skills
• Excellent verbal communication and reporting skills (working and reporting language is English)
• Excellent working knowledge of IT technologies (management software, computer engineering design software) and office computer applications (e.g. email, internet, MS Office)
• Customer and service-oriented attitude
• Ability to work as goal-oriented and timely manner
• Excellent intercultural and interpersonal skills and ability to interact with partners at various levels
• Ability to work under pressure with high attentiveness

2. Tasks/ Responsibilities

In this context, the position holder fulfils the following tasks/Responsibilities:  

• Leading UNRWA Lebanon Field Camp Improvement Programme and UNRWA staff working in CIP projects in various camps
•  Planning, management and implementation of CIP processes (participatory processes, assessments, vision development) in camps where CIPs are being implemented
• Overseeing the design of the physical and social projects that are being developed by CIP.
• Coordinate with relevant UNRWA departments to insure proper implementation of CIP projects.
• Introducing CIP methodologies and approaches to relevant UNRWA departments and staff in Lebanon and developing strategies (workshops/training) that can assist in the influence of these methodologies within different departments and amongst relevant staff.
• Coordinating with relevant UNRWA departments and staff (in Lebanon) relating to the development and implementation of various CIP processes and projects in specific camps.
• Coordinating with relevant external stakeholders such as donors, other development agencies, Lebanese institutions (municipalities, ministries etc.) in relation to CIP vision development and project development as needed.
• Oversees the production of Camp improvement plans and visions and insures that they are produced according the proper technical standards and in line with CIP methodologies and spirit. 
• Oversees capacity building activities to local communities and working groups involved in CIP processes and insuring that handing over of the leadership of CIP processes to local communities are being implemented in the correct fashion.
• Supervises the preparation of a training plan for all staff concerned with camp improvement and insures that lessons learnt from different CIP processes in different camps are being documented and transferred to CIP teams to insure better performance of such projects.
• Coordinate with engineering department to ensure preparation of detailed design and tender/contract document in line with project scope and methodology.
• Develops Camp improvement proposals for donors relating to new camps in Lebanon where CIP projects can be implemented.
• Develop, adapt and evaluate the CIP manual on regular basis.

Other duties/additional tasks:

• Coordinates and cooperates actively and effectively with colleagues and the administrative division within GIZ.
• Represents the interests and always acts on behalf of GIZ.
• Participates in team meetings and other relevant GIZ events/meetings.
• Immediately reports all problems to the disciplinary superior.
• Conducts other relevant tasks upon the requests of the direct superior.
• Performs other duties and tasks at the request of the Team Leader and the Head of Programme.

3. Additional Responsibilities

The position holder is also responsible for:

• Supports the implementation of the CIP project in Lebanon according to GIZ project management according to project goals, team agreements and/or consultations with the AV or team leader.
• Assessment of all related documents e.g. planning reports, drawings, tender documents, etc.
• Communicates and coordinates with all parties and stakeholders involved in planning and implementation of CIP projects (e.g. consultants /architects or engineers, local construction companies, local authorities, owner, UNRWA).
• Builds strong networks with relevant local, national and regional stakeholders
• Reports on implementation status and sets up and updates a M&E system which complies with GIZ standards.
• Supports PR and communication work.
• Ensures good communication, effective coordination and constant flow of information on social and political developments on the ground and the project/programme and its partner institutions.
• Draws up reports, presentations and other relevant documents in English and Arabic.
• Prepares appropriate input for various project/programme reports including annual reports and contributes to the other reports required by the AV, team leader, GIZ Office Lebanon and/or GIZ HQ.
• Assists with research activities and studies on topics which relevant to the project.
• Files on the GIZ document management system (DMS).

Description of project: The wide range of services offered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH are based on a wealth of regional and technical expertise and on tried and tested management know-how. We are a German federal enterprise and offer workable, sustainable and effective solutions in political, economic and social change processes.

Most of our work is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). However, GIZ also operates on behalf of other German ministries and public and private bodies in Germany and abroad. These include governments of other countries, the European Commission, the United Nations and the World Bank. We are equally committed to helping our clients in the private sector attain their goals.

We create prospects for people and with people. As GIZ has an international mandate, we offer a multicultural working environment. We are committed service providers and dedicated professionals, even under difficult circumstances. We take pride in enabling our employees to develop their professional and personal skills. There are plenty of reasons to join our motivated team – ranging from the diverse challenges you will face on a daily basis in one of our 130 partner countries, to the broad scope you will have for shaping your work.

About the Project - Camp Improvement Project (CIP) in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon

This GIZ project supports the Palestinian refugee community together with The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in implementing participatory planning processes in Palestinian refugee camps. In the frame of these processes the refugee community together with UNRWA will engage in and manage a process to negotiate refugee camp priorities and establish more inclusive vision of the camp. As part of the Camp Improvements Project (CIP), stakeholders are creating a comprehensive, integrated and strategic plan that addresses the severely deteriorating living conditions and identifies innovative solutions. Through the CIP, UNRWA works with the refugee community in the camps to develop plans that identify and prioritize the needs of the refugee population through an inclusive and participatory process of negotiation, and then establish a concrete work plan.