SME Project Officer

ANERA BACKGROUND

Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan live with purpose and hope.

Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza), Lebanon and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development. Our staff serve in their communities, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most.

That’s how Anera received more than $171 million in support of programs in 2023 alone, and it’s how we will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.

JOB OVERVIEW

The SME Project Officer will play a hands-on role in the implementation and day-to-day management of the "Taste of Lebanon: The Sustain, Modernize, Elevate Initiative." This position is responsible for executing project activities directly with SME beneficiaries, particularly within the Agri-food sector, managing the revolving fund process, and providing essential support for capacity building and stakeholder coordination. The Officer will ensure the effective on-the-ground delivery of the project, working closely with the Project Manager to monitor progress, support beneficiaries, and contribute to achieving the project's key performance indicators related to finance, business growth, and job creation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Project Implementation & Beneficiary Support:

• Execute day-to-day project activities as outlined in the project work plan, with a focus on direct engagement with SME beneficiaries.
• Support the project team in the development, dissemination, and promotion of calls for applications, leading outreach efforts to ensure a strong and diverse pipeline of potential SME beneficiaries.
• Support the end-to-end administration of the revolving fund scheme, including assisting with application processes, conducting initial non-financial beneficiary assessments, and providing data to the Loan Officer for financial review.
• Facilitate the organization and delivery of capacity-building training sessions for SMEs on topics such as financial literacy, business management, and market access.
• Provide direct technical support and guidance to SMEs, helping them to navigate program requirements and overcome operational challenges.

2. Stakeholder & Beneficiary Coordination:

• Serve as a primary point of contact for SME beneficiaries, building strong, trust-based relationships and ensuring their needs and challenges are communicated to the project management.
• Support the Project Manager in maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including financial institutions and partner organizations.
• Work alongside the Loan Officer to ensure a unified support structure for borrowers to ensure smooth implementation of support activities.
• Represent the project in community-level meetings and beneficiary visits.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting:

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor beneficiary progress, verify data, and assess the impact of project interventions.
• Collect and compile robust data on key metrics, including loan repayments, business performance, job creation, and challenges faced by SMEs.
• Assist in preparing comprehensive periodic reports for the Project Manager and donor, providing detailed updates on activity progress, beneficiary stories, and field-level insights.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date beneficiary files and project databases.

4. Administrative & Logistical Support:

• Organize logistics for project events, workshops, and training sessions.
• Prepare necessary documentation for project procurements, beneficiary agreements, and financial transactions.
• Support the Project Manager in tracking project expenditures and ensuring adherence to the budget for field-level activities.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Economics, International Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in project implementation, preferably in economic development, livelihood support, or SME development programs.
• Practical understanding of the Agri-food sector and the specific challenges faced by SMEs in Lebanon is highly desirable.
• Experience in direct beneficiary management, capacity building, and/or administering grant or loan schemes is a strong advantage.
• Strong organizational skills and a proven ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with a diverse range of people, from small business owners to community leaders.
• Proficiency in data collection, basic analysis, and report writing.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken) is essential.
• Willingness to travel frequently within the project areas.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Anera strives to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, creed, political or national views or background, ethnicity, religion, age, handicap, sex, or any other factor unrelated to ability to perform the required work. Anera does give strong preference in employing Lebanese, Palestinian, or other resident Arab nationals (other than for the country director position and internships). In all cases, recruitment decisions are first and foremost based on merit and qualifications. Anera holds local project institutions to the same standards.

Code of Conduct

Anera is committed to conducting its operations with the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism across all contexts in which we work. We strive to deliver high-quality services and maintain a reputation built on fairness, respect, responsibility, and sound judgment. All employees, managers, officers, and representatives are expected to uphold these standards at all times and act per their duty of loyalty to Anera. No individual may misrepresent the organization or speak on its behalf without proper authorization. Confidential and sensitive information—including financial data, strategic plans, or information related to partners and beneficiaries—must be handled with the utmost discretion and only shared on a need-to-know basis, in line with Anera’s confidentiality and privacy policies. Any violation of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. The level of disciplinary response may take into account whether the violation was self-reported and whether the individual cooperated in the investigation process.

Our values

We are inspired: We are committed to energize, engage, and motivate others to forge the best outcomes for the diverse communities we serve.

We are people-centric: We are respectful and empathetic. We believe that each person, no matter their circumstances, embodies promise and has the power to shape the lives of their community and world.

We are collaborative: Teamwork and collaborative action are at the heart of how we do our work and deliver results.

We are versatile: In a region burdened by obstacles, we make the right connections to find a way and bring can-do, innovative approaches to everything we do.

We are impactful: We make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve by delivering impactful solutions at the local community level.

We are accountable: Our words, actions and results stay true to our mission and values.