Assessment Officer

Job Purpose Summary The Assessments Officer (AO) is expected to represent Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Lebanon in a respectful and professional manner and always act in accordance with the NRC Code of Conduct. The AO will work with the Information, Counselling, and legal Assistance (ICLA) team to conduct and support field teams to conduct outreach and regular assessments to obtain information about the situation in Bekaa and assist NRC to understand the protection and legal situation for Bekaa communities affected.  He/she will support the Assessments team (based in Beirut) and the ICLA field team in the Bekaa in the planning and implementation of the assessment activities and will travel extensively through Bekaa to facilitate the work of the field staff, depending on the needs.  All assessments work carried out and supported by the AO will be done according to the ICLA guidelines and with technical oversight from the ICLA Assessments team in Beirut. Key Responsibilities Background: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international humanitarian nongovernmental organization which provides assistance and protection to refugees and internally displaced persons in over twenty countries worldwide. NRC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, initially assisting displaced Lebanese. In early March 2012, NRC commenced its Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance ICLA (ICLA) programme in Lebanon, with a focus on assisting refugees and displaced persons to understand and enjoy their rights. Initially providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (Palestinian Response), since May 2012 ICLA has also been implementing a programme throughout Lebanon targeting those affected by displacement from Syria. Through a number of Community Centres, accessible by host and refugee communities, and outreach work throughout Lebanon, NRC seeks to provide information and counselling services relating to access to services; documentation and other related matters.  NRC also aims to strengthen the understanding of any protection and legal issues faced by those displaced and, in coordination with other actors, identify ways to address these issues. Duties and Responsibilities: (all in coordination with the ICLA Assessments team and Field teams) In coordination with the SAO in Beirut and ICLA field team in Bekaa, in particular the Bekaa FC, support the preparation and the implementation of regular assessments (including focus group discussions, interviews, questionnaires, etc.). Participate (with a lead in Bekaa field location) in identifying purpose and goals of assessments. Support (with a lead in Bekaa field location depending on the needs) the development of assessment and analysis system and tools (including guidelines on how to use them) to use ICLA data to understand specific context faced by refugees and host communities. Work with the ICLA field team in Bekaa on identifying trends and protection issues to be noticed during outreach work, and to develop a mechanism to share this information effectively with the other ICLA staff and within the team Provide training to ICLA team in Bekaa location and depending on needs on using assessment and analysis tools. Support the organisation of assessment work in Bekaa field, in coordination with ICLA Beirut and the Bekaa field team. Support the collection of information and data from assessments and prepare written reports and maps, including input for weekly and monthly protection and legal updates about the situation. Lead analysis of information and data collected from assessments and include in written reports at field level. Support in the planning of assessment work on weekly and monthly basis and coordinate with FC in Bekaa and ICLA Beirut and the Bekaa field team. Develop lessons learned report after each assessment and on an ongoing basis for assessment work. Assist with preparation of outreach work and materials in the field. Assist in conducting and preparing mapping of relevant services being provided and updating it on a weekly basis. Contribute to preparation of relevant documents (including brochures, information notes, information board updates) for target communities. Understand and be able to explain to others work of NRC Shelter, NRC Education and NRC ICLA activities. Coordinate with other NRC staff at field level and work closely with ICLA field team in Bekaa. Receive technical input from ICLA Lebanon team and work closely with ICLA Beirut team on protection and legal assessments. Work cooperatively with the beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the project. Assist with monitoring and following-up on the quality of services provided at the Centre and as outreach. Assist in maintaining archiving system up to date (both in hardcopies and electronically). Report weekly & monthly (or more often, if required) on activities and results to the relevant NRC staff. Carry out administrative tasks as agreed upon. Perform any other task as assigned by NRC management. Qualifications and Competences Academic and Professional Qualifications    University education in Law, Political or Social Sciences or any related field. Relevant Experience Experience in assessment/ or protection work. At least 2 years of experience in similar positions. Proven experience in providing information and counselling services. Proven experience in conducting assessments, including focus group discussions and interviews. Proven experience in collecting information and writing reports. Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes Excellent communication skills both written and oral in Arabic and English are essential. Strong organizational skills.  Ability to work under pressure. Team spirit. Flexibility. Strong Computer Skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Achievement indicators Delivering working tasks in a structured and professional manner Meeting deadlines Applying to the NRC standards, policies and guidelines Adapting and coping to change Communication with impact and respect