MSME Development Officer - Tripoli (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

The “Market-Based Opportunities and Skills Training for Women and Youth” is a $10 million CAD integrated three-year (anticipated October 2018 - November 2021) program designed to improve livelihood opportunities for women and youth (aged 15-34) from vulnerable populations. The program will target youth between the ages of 15-24, as well as young adults between the ages of 25-34 from Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian families, with a specific focus on women and girls in the target areas.  The overall objective is that women and youth are empowered and valued for playing an active economic role within their households and communities in Saida, Barja, Nabatiyeh, and Tripoli.

The primary objectives of the program are that:

1. Women and youth are gainfully employed or self-employed as a result of program interventions;
2. Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Startups improve their capacity to develop their businesses and hire women and youth;
3. Women and youth have a supportive enabling environment for their economic activities

The Position

The MSME Development officer will lead the field implementation and coordination of MSME support activities in Tripoli area to ensure the program targets businesses and start-ups that have potential to create employment and other additional knock-on effects for the local economy.  Working closely with local partners, the MSME officer will work closely with selected MSMEs to achieve key deliverables in the MSME development component and will provide ongoing monitoring of businesses supported. Specific attention will be paid to ensuring adapted approaches which respond to barriers to employment for women.

Essential Responsibilities

Project Implementation:

• Support the SMEs Senior Coordinator in planning and implementing project activities to meet project deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor;
• Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Troubleshoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to the SMEs Senior Coordinator and Tripoli Project Manager;
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings;
• Support the SMEs Senior Coordinator in conducting periodic risk assessments to update implementation plan accordingly;
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting;
• Assist in filing and record keeping of project activities;
• Closely adhere to internal Mercy Corps procurement processes;
• Prepare weekly reports to be submitted to the SMEs Senior Coordinator. Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;

Project Coordination for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Support

• Assist with the SME support design processes and implementation in order to deliver maximum impact;
• Facilitate field coordination of 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;
• Coordinate financial and operational feasibility studies for SME support packages that promote job growth and employment;
• Coordinate developed strategies to meet MOST’s job creation targets through market-oriented solutions and devising short and long term employment opportunities through SME support;
• Ensure the integration of adapted approaches to respond to barriers to women and youth’s engagement in the workforce;
• Ensure that all SME support-related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies;
• Assist with monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for optimal SME development and support.

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local officials including municipalities, local NGOs and INGOs, project partners, key community leaders, SMEs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables;
• Build relationships with unions and local municipalities to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope. Arrange for meetings with local entities and authorities, as requested;
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector;
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, where relevant.

Other

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy;
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;
• 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 not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Other assigned tasks, as necessary.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Charles Atallah

Works Directly With: Program Manager, M&E Focal Points, and Partner organizations

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, agribusiness, women’s studies, management, economics, international development, or other relevant field;
• One to two years of progressive experience and proven level of competence in working in economic and market development;
• Proven ability to successfully implement economic development programming focused on trainings and beneficiary selection
• Experience carrying out technical assessments or surveys with a team in one or more of the following: Needs assessment, Value Chains, or Socio-Economic Research
• Proven ability to access to conduct outreach to network of MSME’s, government officials, and NGOs, and potential training beneficiaries;
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building;
• Strong leadership and communication skills and sense of humour;
• Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner; and
• 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 humour.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Tripoli and it requires to attend periodical meetings in Beirut office.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.