Municipal Support Assistant - Bekaa - National Candidates Only

Under the direct supervision of the Community Engagement Officer, the Municipality Support Assistant is responsible for providing quality information, basic protection orientation and assistance to beneficiaries and, through this work, developing a better understanding of the situation for the target communities. S/He will work on communicating trends and challenges to IRC and UNHCR. The Municipal Support Assistant will also be following up on individual cases, answering enquiries, and also assisting municipalities when needed in administrative tasks. He/She will work on improving relationships between humanitarian actors and municipalities.

Organizational Contest: The Municipality Support Assistant will be based within the Municipality and will provide support and assistance to mayors, municipal board members and other local administrators in the administration of, in the reporting on, and implementation of policies related to refugees within the designated municipalities’ jurisdiction with the agreement of the assigned line manager (head of the municipality or member authorized by the head of the municipality). In order to duly fulfil the requirements of his/her position, the Municipal Support Assistant will receive regular guidance from the IRC Community Engagement Officer and Senior Protection Manager in direct coordination with the Mayor or Municipal Board Members. He/She will also maintain working relations with humanitarian actors (within the jurisdiction he/she is working in), including but not limited to Ministry of Social Affairs representatives (MoSA/SDCs) as well as representatives of local and international humanitarian organizations.

Major Responsibilities:

• Assist designated municipal authorities in defining local protection needs and gauging impact of displaced Syrian influx on local community.
• Assist in tracking newcomers, conducting protection assessments and referring – when appropriate – relevant high-risk cases to relevant humanitarian agencies.
• Identify displaced Syrian with specific needs and refer them for comprehensive assessments to IRC and/or to appropriate service providers.
• Assist in conducting service-mapping of organizations operating in the area (INGOs, local NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, etc) to determine what services are being offered and which projects are being implemented.
• Assist in updating the service mapping regularly.
• Improve continuously communication with the municipalities and humanitarian agencies.
• Maintain a continuous stream of information following between respective areas and IRC/UNHCR.
• Work to strengthen UNHCR and IRC – as implementing partner – relationships with refugees, refugee/host community leaders and municipal actors.
• Improve continuously the quality of the information coming out to refugees/ municipalities.
• Report to UNHCR/IRC challenges faced, contextual analysis, and major findings.
• Assist in channeling of refugees’ issues/challenges through a better understanding of the policies in place.
• Bring forward the needs of refugees to the relevant authorities and humanitarian community for a coordinated response.
• Understand the practices between the renters and landlords and advocate for fair/ rights guaranteeing documentations between both parties (HLP).
• Attend UNHCR and partners information sessions and briefings.
• Participate in meetings with IRC staff when requested, report local developments and any issue affecting refugee’s lives and advice on needed protection trainings/capacity building initiatives.
• Produce reports as needed.
• Perform any other duty as required by the specific municipality or IRC project management.

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

• 2-3 years of experience in an NGO/INGO associated to refugee crisis or Municipality.
• Experience working for an international organization is preferred.
• Strong protection background and knowledge of refugee context, as well as demonstrated ability to identify and refer vulnerable cases, is desirable.
• Experience in regular report writing.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Belief in human rights including gender equality.
• Good communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Word and excel.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.

Education: Completion of a bachelor’s degree in political science and International Affairs or related degree.

Language Skills: Fluency in Arabic required, English language skills are desirable.

Preferred experience & skills: Refugee Protection, Refugee Law, Human Rights

Working Environment: Located in North Bekaa, Baalbek, Union of Municipalities. The working environment will be office based (80%), with some field work (20%) in other areas.