Acting LHIF Country Coordinator (Consultancy - Parental Leave Cover) - Beirut

Background of the project 

The proposed consultant will be Acting LHIF Country Coordinator for a period of approximately 3 months as parental leave cover. The Country Coordinator of the Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) provides strategic and technical guidance to the LHIF Steering Committee and Plenary, spearheads joint LHIF advocacy and operational initiatives, and ensures consistent LHIF engagement with response leadership and planning mechanisms.

Scope of work

The Country Coordinator leads the work of the Secretariat and represents LHIF internally and externally as necessary to support lobbying with key donors, UN agencies and government. The post reports directly to an elected 5-person Steering Committee of LHIF and is recruited by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

The consultant will be required to maintain the following general responsibilities:

• Act as focal point for LHIF and represent the Forum externally. Facilitate and ensure consistent LHIF engagement in response leadership and planning mechanisms, such as the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) and Inter-Sector, in addition to the HCT and EOC.
• Manage and provide strategic and technical expertise on joint advocacy and operational initiatives agreed on by LHIF members.
• Follow and undertake Analysis on issues relevant to the LHIF Strategic Directions; synthesize and provide briefings on key concerns for LHIF members. Research and draft policy, position and background/analysis papers on LHIF issues.
• Ensure members are kept up-to-date on developments and consolidate member feedback to the UN, donors and government on issues related to the response strategy, management, coordination, and leadership.
• Act as liaison and represent LHIF with the Syria INGO Regional Forum (SIRF), ICVA, InterAction, and other local, regional and global NGO fora.

Deliverables

In addition to the above general responsibilities the consultant will ensure delivery of the following:

A) General

• Organise and facilitate LHIF Plenary Meetings, LHIF Steering Committee Meetings, and the meetings of agreed LHIF sub-groups. Oversee implementation of and report on the agreed strategic directions.
• Manage LHIF Secretariat staff, budget and expenditures. Timely reporting on LHIF funding and proposals.
• Develop proposals, extensions and modifications to ensure ongoing funding for the LHIF Secretariat and LHIF initiatives.

B) Specific

• Plan and coordinate a LHIF-CD workshop to deliver 2022 LHIF Strategic Planning overview.
• Organizing and facilitating a lessons-learned exercise for sector NGO co-coordinators to discuss challenges and exchange best practices.
• Develop and support external advocacy opportunities for LHIF Regional Focal Points, and produce one regional operational context overview report for Q4 (per region).  As part of this, ensure proper onboarding to the newly recruited LHIF Access, Safety and Coordination Advisor.
• Monthly reporting from NGOs on bureaucratic processes and procedures, in addition to continued LHIF engagement in and chairing of the Access Working Group.

Requirements

Work experience

• At least 7 years’ experience in humanitarian programming (ideally in protracted crises and/or post-conflict recovery), with at least 2 years’ experience in country program senior management. Experience in the Lebanon response over the past 2 years is an added value.

Demonstrated skills and competencies

• Diplomatic and inter-personal skills a must.
• Strong leadership and management skills, including staff management and financial/project management.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills, including ability to synthesize and effectively communicate complex issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Editorial and presentation abilities highly valued. Arabic skills a major asset.

Education

• Master’s degree in humanitarian affairs, development studies, public policy, international relations, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred experience and skills

• Significant prior experience with humanitarian and/or NGO coordination essential, preferably in refugee or post-conflict settings. Previous experience with directly coordinating NGO networks or sectors/clusters strongly preferred.
• Experience in representation within HCTs, ISCGs, and other IASC coordination mechanisms, as well as with Governments, donors and UN agencies. Knowledge and understanding of the UN system, humanitarian coordination architecture, and humanitarian principles essential.
• Experience developing or managing humanitarian policy analysis and advocacy initiatives.
• Experience working in the MENA region and/or with the Syria Crisis preferred.