Livelihood Coordinator( Saida )

ROLE PURPOSE: Since the outbreak of violence in Syria in the spring of 2011, the number of Syrians crossing to Lebanon continues to increase. The influx of Syrians has created labour competition, decreasing daily wages and reducing the number of days work each household is able to access. This has resulted in less purchasing power for both Syrians, Palestinians (and PRS) and Lebanese families. Additionally, rent, food and some non-food prices (especially fuel) have increased as a result of border closures. The combination of decreased income and increased cost of essential expenditure is causing many households to engage in negative coping strategies, such as sending children to work, depleting assets and savings, and taking debt. Palestinian refugees continue to live in “temporary” camps within Lebanon, as they have done for the past 60 years, but with constantly worsening living conditions as well as decreased support for their cause.  These overcrowded camps are now trying to accommodate an influx of new refugees fleeing from Syria, who, in addition to their traumatic experiences during their displacement, now face the same challenges as those already situated in the camps: limited opportunities for education, and even more limited employment options.  Palestinians continue to struggle to educate their children as the already over-burdened services are now attempting to provide additional support for the new Palestinian Syrians, excluded from UNHCR’s programme for Syrian refugees.   Youth (14-24 years old) arriving in the camps and gatherings are struggling to access relevant education opportunities within the camps. Especially those at the higher levels are unable to take their exams or progress past the secondary level. Moreover, many are being asked to repeat grades already completed in Syria due to their lower language skills. This lack of opportunity combined with increased pressure on household incomes obliges adolescents and youths to search for labour opportunities – working menial jobs for less than the minimum wage. Palestinians are restricted from 38 professions in Lebanon, and without academic qualifications, employment options are severely limited. Consultations with mothers in the communities suggest high levels of depression among the youth which has been linked to recent evidence of increasing abuse of prescription and illegal drugs.[1]   Save the Children Lebanon considers adolescents and youth key stakeholders in all our programming. Of the adolescent and youth beneficiaries, our main focus will be on the age group spanning between 14 and 18 years, whose training will be provided for by the youth (18 to 24 years). These youth mentors will be selected from within the community, after being identified as active, motivated, and willing individuals committed to improving the situation of their younger counterparts. Thus the youth will also benefit from the project by developing and demonstrating enhanced life skills, including completing a community project.   SCOPE OF ROLE: Reports to: Beirut Area Manager Dimensions: Save the Children Lebanon country office has a national coverage with a current staff complement of approximately 330 staff and current expenditure of approximately $45 million.  This project has a strong linkage with education programming. This post is specific to the youth focused grant that aims to contribute to the strengthening of a holistic non-formal education programme through actively engaging youth in their communities. This will be achieved through training youth educators to support younger peers in delivering non-formal education activities, and engaging at-risk youth in community-driven projects supporting and strengthening non-formal education. The proposed strategic approach to this education programme includes a community group model which enables youth to be providers of educational services at scale, rather than just recipients of education.   Older youth educators/mentors (aged 18 to 24) will be provided with skills training to deliver non-formal education  and recreational activities to children. The exact trainings will be driven by the needs of children in the camps and gatherings, and will likely involve recreational activities; animation and arts; to playing and learning; IT and English. The tools provided to the youth mentors will enable them to support younger youth to set up community projects to deliver these activities for children. A total of 20 older youth will be selected on basis of existing capacity and role within the community.   Younger at-risk youth (aged 14 to 25) will be targeted in the gatherings on the basis of household vulnerability. A total of 75 youth will be selected, and these youth may also be the same youth benefitting from ALP classes. They will be provided with training on life skills and community-led initiatives (using the NAJAH approach, which SC Lebanon has successfully used throughout the region and in Lebanon). They will then be supported by the youth educators/mentors to set up community initiatives to deliver non-formal education and recreational activities to children within and around the gathering. It is anticipated that a total of 15 groups of five youth will be set up. Upon successful presentation of a project proposal, each youth group will be provided with a cash grant to support their initiative. Each older youth educator/mentor will be responsible for the oversight of between 3 and 4 community groups, whilst SC Lebanon staff will provide continuous training on life skills and oversight of the youth initiatives.   Save the Children is seeking a Livelihoods Coordinator to implement these activities in Saida and reach our objective.   Staff directly reporting to this post:  None KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Programme Management: With the Beirut Area Manager, finalize implementation implementation up and design of youth livelihoods activities develop their own businesses. households to access income-generatplans for each FSL project; Identify youth educators; Support the set-up and design of youth livelihoods activities including NAJAH and lifeskills training as well as youth-led projects; Actively participate in the collection and analysis of information used to determine vulnerability, and contribute to the establishment of transparent targeting criteria for youth livelihood beneficiaries; Design the most appropriate activities based on youth consultations in link with education staff and objectives to be carried out; Prepare weekly and monthly work plans in line with the implementation plan;  and ensure timely implementation of activities in line with the plans (including beneficiary registration, trainings, and data collection) Liaise regularly with communities/municipalities to ensure participatory approaches and acceptance of Save the Children’s Livelihoods and youth programming Assist with the training of the Livelihoods staff to ensure they have solid understanding of key programme documents and tools, including M&E tools Monitor budget/expenditure based on the implementation plans; and analyse Budget-versus-Actual reports to assess any discrepancies and ensure timely expenditure . With the Beirut Area Manager, FSL Adviser, and Youth Livelihoods Coordinator analyse information to select intervention sites;  and analyse and evaluate monitoring data to understand impact of project and identify lessons learned for future programming Contribute to local market assessments to determine supply of essential goods for cash and voucher programmingorm programmingnt projects; and vocational training/micro-enterprise set-up; as well as the impact of cash-transfer programming on markets Produce timely reports for internal use on the status of on-going programming; and contribute to donor reporting Liaise on a daily basis with finance, logistics, and administration to guarantee the smooth running of programmes that include movements planning, internal request, Payments, HR, etc. Lead, manage and motivate staff under direct line management, ensuring that they have clear objectives and received meaningful feedback on their performance.   Programme development Participate in the continuous assessment of mid and long term livelihoods needs and ensure that it is appropriately reflected in sectoral meetings Work with colleagues from other sectors to ensure regular coordination at strategic and programmatic level; and ensure multi-sectoral programming, particularly focused on youth With other team members (and communities), identify programme gaps and ensure appropriate action is taken Oversee knowledge sharing across teams, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs Contribute towards the elaboration of proposals ; Work closely with the Beirut Area Manager with support from the FSL Advisor and Youth Livelihoods Coordinator to assess and identify potential local partners for future youth Livelihoods programme (apprenticeships and traineeships) scale up.   Monitoring and Evaluation Ensure clear plans in place for monitoring and evaluating project activities in relation to Save the Children and donor objectives; and that lessons learnt are shared and capitalized on Ensure that projects are monitored regularly, and that data is collected on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis Contribute to the development of data collection tools and databases Regularly visit project sites to provide technical and managerial guidance/support and identify issues that need timely action and support at different levels.   External Relationships Maintain strategic links with key stakeholders such as governmental bodies, UN agencies, INGOs and other local NGOs and CBOs, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the local level Build and maintain effective collaboration with local Micro-Finance Institutions and business associations Represent Save the Children at appropriate coordination meetings   Child Protection Ensure a strict adherence to the principles of Child Protection at all times, including respect for confidentiality and a child centred approach and to act in the best interests of the child.   Other Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.   Accountability: Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved. Ambition: Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others Future orientated, thinks strategically Collaboration: Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to Creativity: Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions Willing to take disciplined risks Integrity: Honest, encourages openness and transparency Experience in field work and community mobilization (particularly of youth); and in training groups of beneficiaries Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English, French a plus Computer skills (especially Excel and word) Strength in interpersonal, communication and presentation skills Flexibility and willingness to change work practices and hours, and capability to work in insecure environment  and meet tight deadline and priorities Available to travel in country