Economic Recovery Officer (Counselling)

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Operating since 2004 in Lebanon, DRC has addressed the needs and rights of vulnerable populations, working initially with Palestinian refugees (since 2004), Iraqi refugees (2007-2010), Lebanese IDPs (during the 2006 conflict), migrant domestic workers (since 2009) and, since 2011, responding to the Syrian refugee crisis.

DRC Lebanon is currently delivering programming in protection, housing, infrastructure, basic assistance, livelihoods, and community development interventions. This myriad programming seeks to address the immediate needs of displaced populations and concurrently support vulnerable host populations. DRC has five offices spread throughout Lebanon in, Beirut, the Bekaa, Saida, Tripoli and Qobayat.

About the job

The Economic Recovery Officer will be based in the North of Lebanon, covering T5 and Akkar areas, as a member of the Economic Recovery department. The Economic Recovery Officer will play a key role in implementing Economic Recovery activities related to career counselling and employability of vulnerable individuals. S/he will particularly focus on conducting profiling and career counseling of vulnerable individuals in employability centers and place the career counselled beneficiaries in the right set of activities. The officer will also play an active role in developing high-quality career pathways for the beneficiaries, be in charge of monitoring their progress and providing them with information about the labour market. The officer will also provide life skills trainings and decent work awareness sessions.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Actively lead the implementation of the economic recovery activities in a way that ensures coherence between planned activities and commitments outlined in project proposals.
• Lead the outreach process to vulnerable communities through the Community Development Centers (CDCs), municipalities, partner organization, and in collaboration with other DRC programs and partners’ programs
• Organize and perform socio-economic profiling and work on information systems/database to record relevant data of beneficiaries. Report any information system issue and coordinate accordingly with the information management team.
• Provide individual career counseling services, following SOPs and guidelines, ensuring a good communication and a safe space. Based on the beneficiaries’ needs, interest and capacities, develop an individual livelihoods pathways and refer the person to the most suitable activities within the program or externally (employment and self-employment options, vocational training opportunities, work-based learning, etc.).
• Provide regular reports on results of counseling sessions and satisfaction of beneficiaries. Provide suggestions for improvement if needed.
• Ensure the classification and good archiving of each beneficiaries files, ensuring beneficiaries data protection.
• Provide beneficiaries with relevant information on the Labour market, Lebanese regulations and their implications for Lebanese and non-Lebanese 
• Map livelihood actors and training service providers and engage with them in the possibility of referring participants to their trainings, cash for work project, BDS programs etc. Follow up and monitor referred participants to ensure participants successfully received the needed service.
• Provide life skills training sessions to career counselled beneficiaries upon the developed DRC curriculum, with support from the Economic Recovery Assistant.
• Provide decent work awareness sessions to career counselled beneficiaries upon the developed DRC curriculum, with support from the Economic Recovery Assistant.
• Monitor the quality of sessions for courses, covid19 adjustments and follow up on curriculum execution.
• Follow up with beneficiaries after referring them to the activities, ensure that they are following their livelihoods pathways and provide extra career counselling sessions if needed.
• Support the economic recovery Team Leader in developing budget forecast, work plans and tools related to career counselling, life skills and decent work conditions activities, as well as Community Development Center (CDCs) management.
• Assist in conducting market assessment of the areas of intervention and determining program intervention priorities based on needs and existing resources.
• Participate in field-based research activities related to DRC economic recovery programing.
• Ensure strong engagement with beneficiaries targeted and make sure their enquiries are answered in a timely manner. Similarly, inform beneficiaries about the feedbacks and complaints mechanism and the hotline number.
• Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation department to facilitate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure program implementation is on track and of highest quality.
• Ensure that all reporting and referrals through RIMS is done through the relevant online platforms.
• Manage the career counselling assistant, provide guidance and support, and capacity building whenever needed. Monitor the tasks and accomplishment of the career counselling assistant.
• Work closely with operational staff to ensure a proper management and follow up on order requests, payment requests and financial forecast of program activities. In particular, the economic recovery Officer is in charge of all the HR and administration, including procurement, that is directly in relation with employability center and implemented activities.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a Bachelor University degree; preferably related to international development, social sciences, economics, psychology.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

2 years’ minimum experience with INGOs, preferably in economic recovery/Livelihoods, social services, or related sectors, which would include experience with the following activities:

• • Social work, particularly career and personal counselling for vulnerable individuals
  • Implementation of skills development trainings programs
  • Profiling beneficiaries for vulnerability and matching them with career pathways
  • Training and facilitation for staff and community groups

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 11 months

Band/Level: H2

Duty Station: NOL

Start date: 1 February 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact sama.kanaan@drc.ngo