Project Lead - Social Recovery Services (Beirut) - National Candidates Only

IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organizations. For 80 years, the IRC has been at the forefront of every major humanitarian initiative to assist people uprooted by war, persecution, or civil conflict. IRC staff go to the toughest places, implement both immediate response and long-lasting programs, and conduct the type of applied research and advocacy the aid community needs to continually push itself to find better solutions for people. In all its country programs, IRC partners with local governments and others to achieve outcomes related to people’s health, education, safety, power and economic well-being. The IRC currently works in 40 countries at with 14,000 employees.

Background:

The August 4, 2020 Port of Beirut explosion compounded Lebanon’s existing economic and social challenges and disproportionally affected Beirut’s vulnerable populations. Since the explosion the efforts of civil society have been crucial for recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Several obstacles remain that challenge the effectiveness, inclusivity and sustainability of the broader recovery and rehabilitation process, which include coordination challenges between ongoing efforts and the ad hoc or temporary nature of interventions. The situation of Beirut’s population remains precarious and the need for support to recovery and reconstruction efforts urgent.

Project Description: Supporting Beirut’s Immediate Social Recovery Services

The project will focus on reducing vulnerabilities are prevalent amongst three groups affected by the blast in Beirut: (i) survivors of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV); (ii) those suffering from deteriorated psycho-social wellbeing; (iii) and/or those facing limitations related to being a person with disabilities and older persons. Supporting Beirut’s Immediate Social Recovery Services interventions will entail providing grant financing directly to a select number of NGOs, to enable them to provide social services to reduce vulnerabilities in these groups.

This will be achieved by supporting non-government stakeholders that are engaged and have a track record in delivering social recovery services and working with target groups by improving their capacity to participate in the broader social recovery and reconstruction processes.

The World Bank has selected the IRC to act as the Intermediary Implementing Agency (IIA) to implement the Supporting Beirut’s Immediate Social Recovery Services project. The IRC will take on project management, grant provision and/or procurement of services from NGOs, and will be responsible for the fiduciary supervision of the selected NGO partners.

Major Responsibilities:

• The Project Lead will provide overall leadership for the technical, financial and operational management of the programme.
• She/he will be the primary representative of the project to all key stakeholders, government officials, and the donor.
• She/he will ensure that the project achieves the expected results and is implemented in accordance with the donor agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards.
• She/he will have the overall responsibility for the oversight and delivery of outputs and results of the programme and will ensure that the programme is implemented as per the contract and in compliance with the World Bank requirements.
• Facilitate systematic partner feedback on IRC’s management of the partnership relationship, including the documentation of, and response to partner feedback.
• Monitor for opportunities to improve IRC’s overall performance as a partner and make periodic recommendations to SMT.
• Lead facilitation and coordination of partnership management processes to ensure well planned, timely, coordinated and coherent partnership management.
• Co-facilitate and guide competitive partner selection processes to identify partner and review proposals and budgets from applicants
• Manage and facilitate funding opportunities for local and national civil society organizations, making efforts to target women-led and women/girls serving organizations.
• Coordinate and co-lead Partner Identity and Background Review (Vetting) processes, including completion of the report for approval.
• Coordinate and co-lead Partner's Project Capacity Review (PPCR) processes, including contributing to and facilitating the collaborative risk analysis and management.
• Determine appropriate partnership agreement type and draft agreement, taking into account the due diligence outcomes and specific project and donor requirements, liaising with HQ for review and approval (and obtaining donor approvals as necessary).
• Co-lead Partnership Project Opening, Review and Closing Meetings, together with the Technical Coordinators
• Coordinate and participate in timely and effective partner program, finance, and compliance review and reflection (monitoring)
• Coordinate narrative and finance reporting processes, including review and feedback.
• Liaise with finance team  to achieve timely funds transfers and proper financial follow up and support for partners;

The role will be supported by a team of full-time and part-time personnel as determined by the needs of the programme. 

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Country Director
Indirect Reporting: Partnership Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Partnership Manager - Senior Partnership Officer - Finance Manager - Finance Assistant

Job Requirements:

The Project Lead is expected to have extensive skills in programme design and development, partnerships management and partner capacity sharing. Wider experience working in the delivery of social services is desirable.

• Significant experience leading the management of large and/or complex donor funded programmes.
• Extensive leadership experience in managing a diverse team of professionals and consortium partners.
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners;
• A proven track record of leading partnership relationships of large and/or complex donor funded programmes.
• Prior experience in operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders ;
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in interpreting and applying statutory and regulatory standards from World Bank awards will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in Subaward Systems development and maintenance.
• Developed understanding of business and partnering standards required to create a high performing and accountable partnership environment.
• Previous experience in developing donor compliant partnering tools, templates and trainings.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively and diplomatically negotiate with donors, partners and co-workers.
• Extensive experience working in Lebanon and knowledge of the social assistance sector and its actors, including civil society, government and service providers.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is required.

Working Environment:  Staff will be based in Beirut office with possible travel to field locations as requested and upon business needs.