Civil Society Advisor

General Description   International Relief and Development (IRD) is an international charitable, non-for-profit, non-governmental organization that collaborates with local and international partners to design and implement humanitarian relief and development aid programs. IRD’s mission is to reduce the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable groups and provide tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency. IRD was founded in 1998 and has grown over the past decade into an organization that is operating in many countries across the world.   IRD has been present in Lebanon since 2006, and the first activities included assistance to poor rural households in southern Lebanon adversely affected by the July War. Currently, IRD implements projects in Lebanon within the context of Syrian crisis supporting civil society organizations, Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and Lebanese host communities.   Specific Responsibilities   Under the supervision of the Country Director, and in close coordination with the Program Manager, the Civil Society Advisor will provide strategic guidance regarding programmatic response in areas of stabilization, governance, and civil society, and will support program objectives through strategic analysis of the political and security context inside Syria. Specific activities include: Compile information and analysis on regional and international development dynamics on the ground inside Syria. Support efforts to ensure activities are in line with the program’s strategic priorities and are developed and sustained in consultation with the donor. Analyze sector-wide and country-specific trends that may impact implementation and recommend courses of action. In close collaboration with the Program Manager, draft regular analysis briefs about the situation in each of the CSO project sites. As requested, assist the Program Manager with work plan development, implementation and monitoring of the project activities. Provide technical guidance to ensure project implementation is adjusted according to the needs on the ground.  Develop and maintain effective partnerships with local, regional and international organizations and stakeholders active in the civil society sector. Lead and support, as required, program networking, linkages and partnership development on social cohesion, governance reform and capacity building issues with other national and international development partners.   Qualifications   Master’s degree from accredited university in International Development, Political Science/International Relations, Economics, Sociology, or other related field Minimum 8 years of experience working in the MENA region required; knowledge of the political and social context and civil society sector in Syria strongly desired Successful track record in coordinating with INGOs and other key stakeholders Experience managing and implementing donor-funded technical assistance projects for civil society development Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks in a fast-paced working environment Very organized with attention to detail and follow-up Ability to maintain strict confidentiality Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Fluency in Arabic and English Lebanese citizen, in resident