Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)- Officer (MOST) Beirut ((Kindly note that your application will be disregarded in case you used the email mentioned (lb-recruitment@mercycorps.org) Your application must be sent online through the URL provided only))

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  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 180 staff working across six offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

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

Recognizing that a supportive environment is essential to address barriers that prevent women from taking an active economic role, the project will be underpinned by community outreach to increase support for enhancing the skills of women and girls, and their expanded participation in the workforce. Project activities will also support businesses to develop gender-inclusive practices to increase hiring and retention of women, and an analysis of barriers impeding women and girls from accessing skills and job opportunities will also be conducted. Following this, the project will identify services that enable women and youth to overcome barriers to employment (such as day care and transportation), and will help develop such services.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The  Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Officer will lead the field implementation and coordination of community mobilisation, mentoring networks and peer mentoring, and support to initiatives and businesses which overcome barriers to women’s economic integration.  The WEE officer will support the integration of gender in the skills and MSME support components of the program, working closely with the officers responsible for these components in the area of implementation, to ensure that specific attention is paid across the program to creating an enabling environment for women’s participation in the workforce. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Project Implementation:

• Support the WEE Senior Coordinator & MOST team 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 WEE Senior Coordinator;
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and trainings;
• Support the WEE 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 WEE Senior Coordinator. Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;
• 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;

Project Coordination Gender Integration, Mentorship, and Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Employment

• Assist with the WEE support design processes and implementation in order to deliver maximum impact;
• Support the WEE Senior Coordinator and the Skills Development team to develop and operationalise a peer mentoring approach for vocational training participants;
• Support the WEE Senior Coordinator and SME Development team to identify and respond to the business and mentorship needs of women-led businesses.
• Lead community conversations on women’s economic empowerment with key stakeholders including community leaders, family members of program participants, religious leaders and other stakeholders.
• Work with the MEL team to coordinate the gender barrier analysis to understand structural limitations to women’s engagement in the workforce in targeted areas.
• Identify and provide follow up support to businesses and initiatives which successfully address barriers to women’s economic engagement in the targeted communities
• Facilitate networking opportunities for female and youth entrepreneurs
• Assist with monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for optimal program delivery.

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.

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.

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior WEE Coordinator

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Operations, Finance, Program Performance, Program Managers, and M&E Focal Points, Partner organizations

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, women’s studies, management, economics, international development, or other relevant field;
• At least two years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence in working in economic and market development, research and/or development-related programs, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings;
• 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
• Experience with relief and socio-economic development work across a range of stakeholders including Private Sector, NGOs, and Local government;
• Proven ability to access to conduct outreach to network of MSME’s, government officials, and NGOs, and potential training beneficiaries
• Deep knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context, protection threats, economic challenges, social stability and resilience mechanisms, relevant to internal conflict preferred;
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building;
• Strong leadership and communication skills and sense of humour;
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps Skills development model a plus
• 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.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.