Regional Programme Officer Lebanon / Syria – Caritas Switzerland regional office hosted by Caritas Lebanon

In response to the crisis in Syria, Caritas Switzerland (CACH) has been engaged in relief activities together with its partners since in July 2012. CACH is currently supporting projects in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. This position aims at contributing to the effective implementation of CACH’s programme in Lebanon and Syria, focusing on the relief and livelihood sectors. Core aspects of the position relate to supporting the Programme Manager and the local implementing partners in all aspects of project cycle management, as well as the setting up of new livelihood and relief projects with a focus on monitoring, reporting, project development and providing technical assistance to partners. Additional duties range from assisting the Programme Manager in administrative tasks to liaising with partners, other organizations working in a similar field and with related donors and other stakeholders. Albeit a full staff of and reporting to CACH, he/she will work under the umbrella of Caritas Lebanon. He/she will be based at CACH’s regional office in Beirut, Lebanon, with travels within Lebanon and the region, including Syria.

DUTIES

1) Needs assessment and project design

1. Assist in conducting field needs assessments together with local implementing partners
2. Assist in preparing assessment tools and training staff /local partner on the use of the these
3. Prepare assessment reports
4. Assure the development of high quality concept notes and project proposals by the partner and directly contribute to these where necessary

2) Project set-up and implementation

1. Assist in tasks related to setting up new projects in Lebanon and Syria. This includes drafting of implementation plans, facilitating inception workshops, and assisting the local partner(s) in the effective start-up of projects
2. Assist local partners preparing regular work plans
3. Ensure timely and accurate implementation of the project activities with supporting documentation and provide problem-solving solutions and actions in collaborations with implementing partners where needed.
4. Support the partners in high quality and timely internal reporting
5. Compile on-time reports for assigned projects in line with donor requirements and internal CACH regulations and in accordance with reporting schedule; submit the reports to the supervisor and/or donors as specified in reporting schedule
6. Promote CACH experiences in the fields of Livelihood and Relief
7. Carry out other tasks assigned by the supervisor

3) Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

1. Conduct regular project visits within Lebanon and Syria to monitor progress and quality of activities and provide structured feedback
2. Ensure CACH M&E regulations are adhered to
3. Assist in preparing new tools and templates and revise existing ones related to ensuring high standards of M&E (e.g. progress, quality, relevance and impact monitoring) in cooperation with the managers
4. Assist in the provision of necessary training to local staff and implementing partners on M&E and related tools and templates
5. Assist in preparing M&E plans and assist local implementing partners in setting up M&E structures
6. Assist in preparing terms of reference for internal and external consultants, experts and evaluations
7. Assist in tracking assigned project progress, status and implementation quality (including field trips as necessary) based on the project work plans
8. Identify best practices and map lessons learned; formulate and share lessons learned and best practices with the supervisor
9. Assist in the review of project financial and narrative reports and the monitoring of project expenses.
10. Carry out other tasks assigned by the supervisor

4) Coordination and Partnership Management

1. Represent CACH vis-a-vis donors, the Caritas Network, partners, livelihood/relief and other authorities and institutions and coordination platforms according to the Program Managers instructions
2. Maintain a strong working relationship with partners and keep the Program Manager informed of all partnership developments
3. Ensuring that all planned activities are coordinated within national and international/UN coordination bodies.
4. Attend coordination meetings in Lebanon as required, and provide updates on CACH projects to the various working groups

5) Administrative support

Carry out all the logistical and administrative tasks required for the CACH sub-office in the country including small purchases, reservations, preparations for visitors, and other related tasks as requested by the supervisor

Competencies and Qualifications

1) Education

University degree in Humanitarian or Development Studies, International Relations, Economics or a related field

2) Professional Experience

1. Minimum of four (4) years of experience in a similar position preferably in Lebanon or Syria. Prior experience in livelihood and relief projects are a strong asset
2. Sound understanding of the context and the refugee situation

3) Skills and Competencies

1. Highly organized, good capacity of analysis and synthesis, and attention to coherence and detail
2. Strong inter-personal skills, patience and persistence, if required
3. Strong motivation to work in close partnership with national partners
4. Sound understanding of humanitarian standards (e.g. Sphere)
5. Solid communication and presentation skills, especially in writing
6. Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision and to cope with time pressure.
7. Sound experience with modern technology, modern management tools
8. Flexibility and readiness to take on additional tasks, ranging from representation in cluster meetings to document filing
9. Experience in CTP is an asset

4) Language and Other Requirements

1. Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic are required
2. Permission to work in Lebanon
3. Willingness to frequently travel to the field (up to 50%)

Duty Station: Beirut/Lebanon
Travel: Frequent travel within Lebanon and the region, including Syria Supervisor
Reports to: Programme Manager Lebanon/Syria
Expected Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 months with possible extension
Expected Workload: Full time