Project Coordinator – Rehabilitation of Fruit Tree Orchards in Arsal (Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, through the URL link provided. (Kindly do not send emails to lb-recruitment@mercycorps.org)) (PENDING FUNDING)

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. We do this through:

• Addressing the humanitarian and protection needs resulting from crisis situations for the most vulnerable communities
• Enabling local communities, civil society and government to better prevent and respond to conflict, address needs and deliver sustainable development solutions
• Promoting economic growth and catalysing economic opportunities for vulnerable, under-employed groups in Lebanon

Our programs focus on four sectors:  Economic Opportunities, Governance and Social Stability, Youth and Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 160 staff working across six offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa.

Mercy Corps is launching an initial six-month intervention (1 September 2018 to 1 March 2019) in Arsal to rehabilitate fruit orchards which have been affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, in order to alleviate the loss of long-term livelihoods for farmers in the Arsal outskirts.   The proposed program plans to subsidize the removal of dead fruit trees, the purchase and planting of fruit trees, the rehabilitation of drip irrigation equipment and /or greenhouses or other agricultural assets, and orchard maintenance toolkit distribution for 40 small scale farmers.  Based on need, the program may also rehabilitate agricultural roads in coordination with the municipality.  In addition, the program will provide cash for work and training opportunities for vulnerable Lebanese and/or refugee individuals, enabling them to receive a rapid injection of cash into their households and to secure marketable skills in agriculture (such as grafting, pruning and spraying and irrigation maintenance) to facilitate their ability to secure seasonal work opportunities in the fruit orchards.

 

[Describe overview of job missioGENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the oversight of the project, and ensuring that all project activities are contributing towards the overarching project objectives.  S/he is responsible for ensuring effective planning and monitoring of project activities to meet project objectives, ensuring the quality of all project deliverables.  S/he is responsible for management of the project team, supervising day-to-day activities and coordinating effectively with stakeholders in Arsal.  S/he will be responsible for managing the project budget, with support from the finance team and supervisor.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

 

Team Management:

• Provide overall supervision for MC team members, ensure day to day management support, and organize team meetings.
• Ensure team completes tasks as assigned in a timely, professional way
• Ensure work-planning is carried out by all team members and updated on a regular basis, focusing on achieving project objectives, as well as ensuring meeting deliverables;
• Foster a strong team spirit and ensure effective communications between team members and with local stakeholders
• Ensure staff receive appropriate capacity building to enable them to complete their tasks effectively – including ensuring that all staff participate in initial capacity building trainings on Cash for Work and Skills building programming, and integrate best practices into their work.

 

Implementation of Project Activities:

• Ensure the project has a workplan, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined, and that this is used to check progress against targets in regular program meetings.
• Manage all service providers and consultants related to the program activities and ensure logistical support is provided, as well as ensuring that they meet the deliverables as set in their Scope of Work. 
• Coordinate closely with local authorities and farmers to establish, document and check criteria for beneficiary selection into the project, to ensure that these are perceived to be fair by local stakeholders and to ensure full transparency in the selection process
• Provide support for logistics of carrying out the rapid market assessment
• Provide oversight of all Labour Intensive Project implementation, and ensure the project complies with sector standard operating procedures for these activities
• Provide oversight for all training activities, and think through how best to link training beneficiaries with seasonal work opportunities
• Ensure the farm-level interventions are coherent and will enable small-scale farmers to improve their situation in the upcoming years
• Coordinate closely with local de-mining programs (for example those run by MAG) to ensure the safety of program participants

 

Monitoring and Evidence-based Decision Making:

• Input into the development of MEL tools to measure the achievements and impact of the project, as well as to highlight any issues in the implementation
• Ensure monitoring of all program activities to enable MC to assess both progress against activities and achievement of program objectives
• Ensure data from monitoring activities is integrated into team meetings, and data is used to inform decision making on the program

 

Reporting, Documentation, and Financial Management:

• Write narrative reports to meet donor and internal requirements; and ensure financial reports are accurate
• Participate in BVA meetings, and provide updated budget projections on a monthly basis
• Ensure the project follows Program Management Minimum Standards, and has appropriate documentation of activities

 

Communication and Visibility:

• Ensure the program has appropriate visibility for the donor and for Mercy Corps, and contribute to the development of communications materials for this project.
• Ensure a communication plan is developed for the program, and work closely with the communication and media coordinator to develop appropriate communication materials
• Highlight opportunities for gathering success stories from the field;
• Ensure 3Assama3 community accountability and feedback mechanism is known to all beneficiaries, and that posters, flyers and business cards are distributed and visible to enable beneficiaries to provide feedback on activities being implemented.

 

Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings
• Identify opportunities for coordination and maintain regular engagement with stakeholders.

 

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
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops
• Carry out other tasks as deemed necessary by the MERG Sector lead and director of programs

 

Organizational Learning 

As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities. 

 

Do This

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:  Two Project Officers and one Project Assistant

 

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  Market, Economic Recovery and Growth Sector Lead

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:  Forsa Senior Field Coordinator for Skills and TVET, Finance, Operations, MERG Advisor, Director of Programs

 

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Require B.A. with preference for Agriculture Economics, or Agriculture
• At least 2 years’ experience in relevant programming
• Experience implementing agriculture programs
• Experience implementing cash for work programs
• Experience identifying and developing local partnerships
• Demonstrated ability to manage and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles;
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving;
• Proven ability to learn quickly, lead a program to achieve stated results and objectives;
• Ability to effectively represent Mercy Corps and its interests to key stakeholders;
• Oral and written Arabic required
• Oral and written English skills preferred
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment;
• Experience with NGOs is a plus
• Willingness to travel throughout the country.

 

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful Project Coordinator will combine knowledge of administrative, executive and financial work flow related to orchard rehabilitation and cash for work program implementation. S/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving is essential in a complex security and political environment like Lebanon. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.