Project Manager, Local Economic Development

Position Title: Project Manager, Local Economic Development

Reporting to: Chief of Party Local Economic Development / Deputy Director of Programmes

Duty station: Ain, Bekaa, Lebanon

We World GVC is an Italian secular and independent organization working since 1971 in international cooperation and humanitarian aid. Present in 29 countries with 128 projects, We World GVC operates in the following areas of assistance: human rights (gender equality, prevention and combating violence against children and women, migration humanitarian aid (prevention, emergency relief and rehabilitation), food security, access to water, health and hygiene, education, global citizenship education, quality teaching and international volunteering. We World GVC supports people overcoming emergencies and guarantees a life with dignity, opportunities and a better future through human and economic development programs, and works mostly with girls, boys, women and youth, actors of change in every community for a fairer and more inclusive world, in the framework of the 2030 Agenda.

Joining the We World GVC team means being part of the development of a dynamic organisation where the contribution of each staff member is promoted and valued, working together towards the collective achievement of shared goals and vision.

Working context

We World GVC has been working in Lebanon since 2006 and is now supporting vulnerable populations in Lebanon through WASH, shelter, basic assistance and protection interventions aiming at increasing the resilience of the concerned communities, in North Bekaa (Baalbek-Hermel Governorate) and in Akkar. We work to return dignity to entire communities; we fight poverty and injustice so that the fundamental rights of every person can be recognized. Our interventions aim to increase the population’s resilience, enhancing a community’s capacity to find, within its fabric, the skills and resources necessary to grow in a self-sufficient manner.

Our staff is the key to achieving ambitious goals. With nearly 770 professionals employed and 250 partners, over the past 12 months We World GVC has reached 1.4 million people. The organization’s programmes are co-funded by the most important humanitarian and development aid donors such as EU (DEVCO, EACEA, ECHO, NEAR), United Nations (OCHA, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO) and individual countries (AICS, JICA, France and Dutch Embassies) as well as by private donors and foundations. The challenges that characterize the environments we work in are tackled by creating innovative synergies that draw on teamwork, multi-disciplinary experiences and by pairing international and local expertise. Respect for individuals and constancy are essential and inalienable characteristics if operating in contexts requiring strong human and professional talents.

Job Description

We World GVC is the Lead partner in a project on Local Economic Development in the North East Bekaa, through improving irrigation, agricultural value chains, producer aggregation, capacity building for public institutions, and support to small and medium businesses. We World GVCs component focuses on the implementation, among others, of irrigation infrastructure, management of sub-grants to beneficiaries, capacity building to local public institutions, fostering local economic development structures, and overall project management including team management, monitoring, reporting, budget oversight, and coordination with other departments within GVC,

Within this framework, We World GVC seeks to recruit a Project Manager to set-up and lead the implementation of the We World GVC component of this 4-year EU DEVCO funded project. They will be responsible for successfully implementing We World GVCs component of the project, in close cooperation with the project partners and the Consortium Coordinators, beneficiaries, and stakeholders. The thematic focus of the position is institutional capacity building at local and regional level in rural areas, generating social cohesion through increased local planning and communication, as well as following up on irrigation components and contracts.

Project Management

• Be responsible for the supervision and management of We World GVCs component under the Local Economic Development in the North East Bekaa project
• Initiate and conduct surveys and assessments, ensuring stakeholder participation
• Plan and implement irrigation infrastructure through managing contracts with consultants and contractors, with the support of the organizations’ WASH Specialist,
• Ensure transparent procedures for the selection, allocation and implementation of sub-grants for beneficiaries
• Prepare and implement capacity building for public institutions, such as Municipalities, Ministry sub-offices, Governorate institutions for local economic development
• Set-up, collaboratively design, and implement local economic development social structures, plans and communication campaigns for cohesive local planning and increased social cohesion
• Plan and supervise the implementations of local and national communication and awareness campaigns.
• Conduct procurement processes in collaboration with the logistics and finance department
• Manage the project’s component budget in collaboration with finance and logistics

Monitoring and reporting

• Closely monitor and follow-up on the contracted works and directly liaise with the consultants and contractors
• Monitor and assess the progress of implementation of activities in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) department and project staff and devise corrective measures as and when required, ensuring that project impact is maximized and lessons learnt are continuously documented and shared
• Prepare reporting to EU regularly and timely, including accurate information and ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information, and support the CoP in the preparation of other reports foreseen in the contractual agreement

Team Management and HR

• Ensure the appropriate staffing of the office, planning and implementing specific actions to recruit, manage and motivate staff
• Ensure that directly line managed staff have clearly defined objectives, understand their responsibilities and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
• Line-manage designated staff including recruitment, day-to-day management, training etc.
• Provide support and advise in supervision, guidance, coordination and monitoring for project technical and social staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities and encouraging effective teamwork
• Hold regular team meetings, reviewing team and individual objectives, ensuring team members are kept informed of issues relevant to their work and providing opportunities for feedback
• Coordinate the Logistic activities in support to all field activities, in coordination with the Logistics Manager
• Assist the Deputy Director of Programs and the Chief of Party with establishing and maintaining a collaborative and high performing team and a good working environment.

Strategy development and programme development

• Provide input and develop strategies for local economic development / irrigation / agriculture and livelihood topics, including technical, social and institutional approaches
• Support the Deputy Director of Programmes by conducting needs assessments in areas of interest, coordinating with relevant staff and developing concept notes / project ideas
• Input into the development of the We World GVC strategy, new projects and/or donor proposals.

Communication, coordination and representation

• Establish and maintain networks with operational and institutional interlocutors involved in the realization of the project.
• Represent GVC at relevant public, coordination and representation meetings involving local stakeholders, authorities, international agencies and NGOs.
• Prepare visits of donor representatives / HQ visitors / other stakeholders whenever requested
• Report on specific incidents, trends or contextual events occurring in the Bekaa to the Deputy Director of Programs and Chief of Party
• Participate in all Consortium relevant meetings, as well as relevant sector meetings of the target areas
• Represent We World GVC in public events and meetings with stakeholders, including local authorities and partners as well as sector program meetings or other relevant coordination bodies

Other tasks

• Implementation of other specific tasks assigned by the Line Manager and preparation and transmission of additional information requested by HQ.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Knowledge:

• An advanced university degree or equivalent in the field of Social or Political Science, Development Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Project Management, or similar
• Fluent in written and spoken English

Professional experience:

• Minimum 4 years of project management experience, preferably as part of a Consortium
• Proven experience with impact-driven implementation of activities and team management, as well as logistics, MEAL and budgeting in collaboration with respective departments
• Previous working experience in local economic development with public and private actors in rural and conservative contexts and in depth understanding of local social and political contexts to foster local economic development on the ground through participatory approaches
• Previous work experience with international NGOs

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, staff management and leadership skills
• Good communication skills, in written and spoken, adapted to different levels
• Ability to identify, initiate and maintain good relationships with partner organizations, donors and local authorities including building professional relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers / leaders.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and perform under stress conditions
• High tolerance for lengthy processes, and ability to patiently and persistently follow-up
• Ability to think strategically and conceptually and to translate these into concrete results
• Capacity to work autonomously and in problem prevention/resolution
• Integrity in line with the NGO values and ethical standards
• Cultural, gender, religion, and age sensitivity and adaptability

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Previous experience in Lebanon, particularly in the North Bekaa, or in rural contexts in the Middle East
• Knowledge of Arabic
• Knowledge of main donors’ policies and procedures (EU, UN Agencies, Italian Cooperation)