Community Engagement Officer

CESVI IN LEBANON

Cesvi has been active in Lebanon since 2001 in different areas: North, South and Mount Lebanon, Nabatieh and Beirut. Funded by institutional donors and private foundations, Cesvi's projects cover a broad range of sectors - such as livelihoods, food security and emergency assistance - all with a crosscutting focus on protection. Since 2013 Cesvi has been responding to the spillover of the Syrian Crisis, paying special attention to Livelihood and Protection sectors, in close collaboration with local authorities, partners, CSOs, international agencies and other stakeholders.

Brief project profile

The Alliance2015 Partnership, represented by lead agency ACTED, Cesvi, Concern and Hivos, is running a program that aims to address root causes of conflict and instability in Lebanon, through the creation of sustainable income-generating and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations. Over three years, Alliance2015 partners will work directly with 1,800 individuals, 18 Social Development Centers (SDCs) and at least 27 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Lebanon. The integrated program targets vulnerable communities with economic inclusion activities through three main pathways:

(A) Building the capacity of SDCs leads to an improved delivery of livelihood-related services;

(B) Improving the technical and soft skills of vulnerable individuals to ensure increased participation in the private sector job market; and

(C) Improving the capacity of the private sector leads to growth and job creation.

Activities include providing livelihood-related resources, assets and renovations to each targeted SDC; offering TVET and soft skills training, paid apprenticeship programs and job-matching services to vulnerable individuals; and providing businesses development services and value chain support to MSMEs.

This assignment is focused on Outcome Pathway B and C of the Project: Improving the technical and soft skills of vulnerable individuals to ensure increased economic opportunity and reduce negative coping mechanisms and tensions; Improving the capacity of the private sector for growth and job creation. 

The participation of local communities at different levels is vital for Cesvi, as it guarantees the relevance of its interventions and ensures that local authorities and communities are informed about its activities and embrace them. The engagement of local communities is also important in order to actively engage beneficiaries in Cesvi’s activities, so to foster local empowerment, and to build solid networks with governmental and non-governmental actors at the local level. On the other hand, private sector engagement also proves to be crucial for the creation of market linkages and job opportunities for vulnerable beneficiaries.

Overview of the assignment

In order to inform Cesvi’s strategy and activities in Saida and to ensure a proper level of involvement of local communities and private companies as potential employers for vulnerable beneficiaries, the Community Engagement Officer will work together with Cesvi’s staff to:

• Guarantee the achievement of the objectives related to the participation of local communities in Cesvi’s activities;
• Support the engagement, mapping and follow-up with private sector companies, in order to identify employment opportunities and promote labor retention of target beneficiaries;
• Maintain periodic and effective relationships with members of the local communities: local authorities, beneficiaries, community leaders, local NGOs and other relevant stakeholders; 
• Represent Cesvi when required;
• Collect data on beneficiaries to feed project database;
• Conduct community and stakeholder mapping exercises and needs assessments; 
• Organize awareness-raising activities and community-based activities, ensuring the adequate engagement of all stakeholders;
• Facilitate, together with the Field Coordinator, Focus Group discussions and administer questionnaires;
• Coordinate and supervise the work of volunteers employed in the Project.

In order to achieve the expected results, the assignment will entail, among other things, compiling Minutes of Meeting and reports, preparing and administering questionnaires, entering data.

Scope of work

General coordination and planning

Handle the follow up of awareness-raising and community-based activities in the field, and ensure that the technical aspects of the activities are running in accordance with the project’s objectives and strategies

• Build and maintain relationships with community level and private sector stakeholders
• Coordinate with the Program Manager the organization of all the activities that entail community engagement
• Plan community-based activities, meetings with stakeholders, local authorities and private companies to enhance the level of participation of the community to Cesvi’s activities

Assessment and mapping

• Perform needs assessments and support in the development of baseline and endline questionnaires
• Support the organization, facilitation and follow-up of Focus Group Discussions, Interviews to Key Informants and community mapping exercises
• Meet with stakeholders at the community level regularly to assess gaps, strategies and project progress
• Map and track relevant stakeholders (community, local authorities and private sector)

Reporting and evaluation

• Present to the Program Manager findings and suggestions to increase the level of community engagement and match-making between beneficiaries and private sector in Cesvi’s activities
• Enter data and feed internal database
• Submit requested reports and Minutes of Meeting to the Program Manager and make requested changes in a timely manner

Representation

• Strengthen relationships with local authorities, local partners and target groups and represent Cesvi before relevant stakeholders when required

Requirements

The candidate must hold Lebanese nationality.

Knowledge/Experience

• At least 2 years of experience working in community mobilization/engagement positions
• Demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis
• Previous experience working with refugee communities
• Previous experience with private sector engagement (highly desirable)
• Previous experience working with an NGO desirable

Skills

• Expert-Level Knowledge of Community Mobilization/Engagement techniques
• Excellent interpersonal, communications and marketing skills
• Excellent writing and organizational skills, with high attention to details
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent skills in common software packages (MS Excel, MS Word, Power Point)
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic
• Driving license

Personal attributes

• Be honest, trustworthy and respectful
• Be proactive, creative and an excellent team-player
• Strong interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity to needs of vulnerable populations
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under tight deadlines
• Initiative-taker with attitude towards continuous learning and constructive criticism