Technical Advisor – Community Support Project

Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale is a not-for-profit, non-political and non-religious NGO. Its objective is to bring about a global response to the basic needs of populations suffering from acute humanitarian crisis and to allow them to recover their autonomy and dignity. PU-AMI’s involvement in the Syrian Crisis is strong, with a wide range of programs implemented in most of the countries affected by the conflict.   PU-AMI’s main objective in Lebanon for the years 2015/2016 is to provide a protection-based holistic response, covering the basic needs of refugees and host communities in Beirut, Saida, Mount Lebanon and Akkar districts.   A multi-sectorial portfolio of activities (Psychosocial, Education, Health, WASH, Food Security, Infrastructure, Shelter Rehabilitation and IS/CS Management - Protection) is addressing refugees and host population’s vulnerabilities, by enabling individuals and communities to achieve respect for rights in safety and dignity.   PU-AMI is also seeking more sustainable and cost-efficient modalities of implementation, mainly by building partnerships with local organizations and existing public entities, which will contribute to bridge the humanitarian assistance delivered to refugees with specific community support projects, in order to strengthen the social cohesion between communities.   Consequently, PU-AMI’s 2015-2016 Country Strategy is based on 2 programs: -        A Humanitarian Assistance Program: providing a protection-based humanitarian material assistance and services to the most vulnerable refugees and people affected by the Syrian Crisis. -        A Resilience Program: developing and strengthening community-level infrastructures as well as supporting household-level economic empowerment and well-being, with regards to specific poor and vulnerable groups, including women and people with disabilities.                 POSITION GENERAL INFORMATION   Position: Technical Advisor - CSP Component: Community Support Projects Based in: Beirut   Supervision   Under the direct supervision of:       Base Programme Coordinator Under the overall supervision of:     Field Coordinator       OVERALL MISSION   General objective   Under the direct supervision of the Base Programme Coordinator, the Community Support Project Technical Advisor is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Community Support Projects in the targeted municipalities. The CSP Technical Advisor will act as the focal point both for the municipalities and the communities where the projects will take place. Within PU-AMI, he/she will seek to bring different elements of the project (shelter/ WASH, AME and Social Cohesion) together to effectively implement the project and achieve maximum impact.  He/ she will ensure effective communication between stakeholders internally and externally and will provide expert advice and capacity building to relevant staff who are working on the project.    The Community support projects include the following objectives:   n  Support small infrastructure project based on community needs identification n  Municipality capacity building in project development and community consultation n  Initiation of a linked event through a volunteer youth initiative, and creation of opportunities to mitigate tensions and facilitate inter-community dialogue and cohesiveness    n  Community capacity building in conflict management Responsibilities and tasks   1.      Coordinate the Municipalities identification and selection -       In coordination with the Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation (AME) department undertake the pre-selection of municipalities, based on secondary data review and in consultation with relevant stakeholders -       Support the AME team in the implementation of  key informant interviews for the partnership assessment of Municipalities -       Liaise with the municipalities to provide them with the technical support to present their Community Support Projects -       Establish and chair an internal CSP Committee to evaluate and select the municipalities to be supported, according to the evaluation criteria established -       Be the overall focal point for all communication with the Municipalities   2.      Needs assessment through Community consultation -       In coordination  with the Protection Coordinator and Quality Department contribute to the design of the assessments tools needed for the assessment component of the project -       Train the Municipality, and especially the appointed Municipality focal point, in Community consultation for the implementation of CSP projects -       Support the AME team in the community consultation process in order to identify needs and people with vulnerabilities -       Coordinate the Municipality representation in the Focus group discussions and community mobilization activities conducted   Community Mobilization -       Ensure the proper community mobilization and realization of the youth initiative projects -       Support community participation in project design and implementation -       With the FS&L Project Manager, support Cash for work program implementation within the Shelter/Wash CSP project including identification of suitable households for shortlisting and vulnerability assessment   3.      Capacity Building & training -       Support the AME team in the Community needs assessment, and ensure the Municipality representation in the Focus group discussions -       Conduct directly or arrange appropriate training sessions on various topics such as civil society participation, community empowerment, conflict mitigation, with the support of the Protection and Outreach coordinator -       Conduct a workshop in project design for each Municipality -       In coordination with the relevant PMs, provide necessary technical support to the staff engaged in the CSP project, including training and capacity building, when needed   4.      Small infrastructure work monitoring -       In coordination with the Shelter team, monitor the Shelter/Wash CSP and make sure they respects timing and methods agreed upon   5.      Information Management and Reporting -          Maintain secure records of all information collected for the CSP project -          Undertake analysis as required by line manager -          Provide regular written updates on CSP project progress to line manager -          Ensure all relevant challenges and obstacles are reported immediately to line manager and relevant PMs if they are affecting project implementation -          Participate in writing required reports (for PU-AMI, donors, partners, etc.) in collaboration with the Base Programme Coordinator -          Participate in the identification of lessons learned and ensure they are shared and followed up  both during and on completion of the project -           The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are not exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project needs.   QUALIFICATIONS   Mandatory requirements   Ø    Language Skills: Fluent in English and Arabic, (speaking/reading/writing). French is an asset. Education Degree: Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Development, Food security, Economics or another relevant degree Work experience: Proven experience in NGOs, previous experience in working with Municipalities and/or community mobilization. Proven project management and monitoring and evaluation skills.  Computer Skills: Excellent knowledge of the MS Office software especially Word, Excel, Outlook.   Other requirements -          Valid driving license -          Management and pedagogical skills -          Good analytical and critical thinking skills -          Interpersonal skills and negotiation skills -          Familiar with academic research methodologies -          Very good reporting skills   Assets   Interest: Work in relief, interest for social issues  Experience: Previous experience in shelter/wash, CSPs and/ or social cohesion activities Transversal skills -          Ability to analyse and suggest improvements of the activities -          Ability to adapt or change priorities according to the changing situation within a mission or the organization itself -          Well organized and hard worker -          Able to self-manage and prioritize with limited support -          Able to manage stress and pressure -          Able to check information, logical -          Neutral