Intaj Technical Advisor - Sme Support

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.  With funding from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Mercy Corps is launching a rapid eight month pilot programme to identify successful economic development strategies that are potentially scalable and transferrable. The program, Improved Networks, Training and Jobs (INTAJ) in Lebanon, aims to support vulnerable Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees in Bekaa Valley and North governorates to address their economic needs through reduced unemployment and increased income for small businesses. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Support Technical Advisor will be responsible for the technical quality related to the SME support component of INTAJ, as well as new business development initiatives to expand programming. S/he will advise on the design, planning, and monitoring of the Mercy Corps SME development and support work in North Lebanon and Beqaa Valley to ensure interventions achieve key results. This program aims at improving the stability and resiliency in target communities in the North of Lebanon and the Beqaa through reduced unemployment and increased income for businesses with the following core activities: Support demand-driven, practical skills training and workforce-skills development for individuals. Offer small and medium enterprise (SMEs) specialized technical assistance, limited in-kind grants and linkages to existing business support services to lower risks and strengthen the ability of companies to grow their workforce.  Improve efficiency and quality of skills building component by building new market-driven relationships and incentivizing further investments in upgrading the value chain.   ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Technical Guidance for SME Support Component Lead integrated SME support design processes in order to converge existing and new programming on economic and market development to deliver maximum joint impact, and integrate SME support-related activities into the design of other market and economic development programs; Provide specialized technical assistance to offer assistance to small and medium enterprise (SMEs), limited in-kind grants and linkages to existing business support services to lower risks and strengthen the ability of companies to grow their workforce; Lead financial and operational feasibility studies for SME support packages that promote job growth and employment; Devise support strategies and business packages for the private sector; Develop strategies to support institutional and community capacity building to enhance the enabling environment (i.e. technical capacity, sub-grants to private service providers); Develop strategies to meet INTAJ’s job creation targets through market-oriented solutions and devising short and long term employment opportunities through SME support; Ensure that all SME support-related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies; In coordination with the Knowledge Management and External Relations Manager, support rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for optimal SME development and support. Team Capacity Building Build the capacity and mentor INTAJ team, sub-grantees and local partners on successful planning and implementation of the SME support component; Ensure that teams fully adhere to international, technical and organizational minimum standards, including adopting gender, conflict sensitive, and participatory approaches to ensure that Do No Harm and other principles are fully respected; Cultivate SME development synergies and linkages to economic-related programs, as well as linking to other sectors of the Lebanon portfolio, namely youth and protection, WASH, governance and conflict.  Other Contribute to organizational strategic planning and new SME development program development for appropriate expansion and growth of Mercy Corps' economic and market development portfolio; Liaise with Mercy Corps’ global Technical Support Unit to identify strategies to strengthen SME’s  and job creation  programming, as well as promote Mercy Corps' thought leadership role on economic and market development in Lebanon and across the region; Represent Mercy Corps’ work at Beirut and field-based levels, as needed, to foster greater connections and information sharing including participating in workshops and tasks forces, as needed, to inform strategy development and improved service delivery; Fulfill Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide; Ensure activities promote gender equity, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness by applying Do No Harm and Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity policy; Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission; Other assigned tasks, as necessary. Organizational Learning  As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve.  We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None ACCOUNTABILITY: Reports directly to:  INTAJ Program Manager Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, Program, and M&E Teams KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE MA/S or equivalent in social science, management, economics, international development, or other relevant field; At least five years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in SME Support and job creation initiatives, as well as economic and market development, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings; Specialized background in economic and market development including Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P); Experience with relief and socio-economic development work in a vulnerable context; Knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context, economic challenges, social stability and resilience mechanisms  relevant to internal conflict preferred; preference also given to candidates with background in the Middle East region; Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training, mentoring and capacity building; Strong communication skills and sense of humor; Proficiency in English essential.   SUCCESS FACTORS A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to promote new approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.  Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.