Community Based Protection Network (Cbpn) Coordinator - Youth For Tomorrow

DISCLAIMER It is mandatory to mention the job title in the subjet of your application email Applicants who do not mention the position they are applying for will be disregarded DISCLAIMER It is mandatory to mention the job title in the subjet of your application email Applicants who do not mention the position they are applying for will be disregarded DISCLAIMER It is mandatory to mention the job title in the subjet of your application email Applicants who do not mention the position they are applying for will be disregarded PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.  The conflict that began more than five years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families or in rented accommodation.  As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement. With the support of the Government of Canada, Mercy Corps is launching the Youth for Tomorrow program, which will be implemented in Saida, Mt. Lebanon, and Tripoli.   This three-year program is part of a regional initiative by Mercy Corps, funded by the Government of Canada, in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to build improved, evidence-based provision of psychosocial support and market-driven skills to vulnerable youth in the region.  The program will benefit from regional synergies to increase impact and will contribute to improving the evidence base for interventions of this type. The program will engage Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese adolescent boys and girls, between the ages of 12 – 18 who are not currently enrolled in school or are at high risk of dropping out. The program will also engage young adults between the ages of 19 – 35 from among refugee and host communities to act as mentors and facilitators within the project.  Youth for Tomorrow will provide adolescents on-going psychosocial support and market-driven skill-building opportunities while building an enabling environment for young people through community engagement and provision of enhanced adolescent and youth services.    GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY The CBPN coordinator will be responsible for building the capacity of the partner staff, youth, coaches, caregivers and other individuals to implement successful activities which develop psychosocial support amongst individuals, through activities & trainings carried out in the Youth Centers or in the communities. S/he will also take the lead on ensuring that all team and partner staff are able to identify child protection related issues and provide support vulnerable youth. S/he will also work with the program team, partners to develop and implement trainings also methodologies for community gatekeepers and CBPN members, parents committees to build awareness on protection issues, and enable them to establish effective community based protection networks in the areas of the three Adolescent Friendly Community Centres.  ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Program Implementation and Quality:  Ensure quality implementation of program activities and alignment and progress against work plan Develop training materials to assist community members to establish or improve Community Based Protection Networks (CBPN) and parents committees in the areas of the three Adolescent Friendly Community Centre  alongside the parents committee Support youth leaders and CBPN focal points in outreach activities with families / parents committees of vulnerable youth Work with CBPN focal points and centre staff of the partners to establish the Community Based Protection Network. Work with partners to coordinate trainings, work plan, meetings and schedules for each Community Based Protection Network. Training CBPN members in all centres on Child protection, protection mainstreaming, stress management, shaming, bullying, abuse, positive parenting skills, safe identification and referral mechanism, etc… Support the CBPN focal points and the CBPN’s members in creating a local resource map in each location Continues coaching, support and follow up to the partners CBPN focal points on a regular basis. Team Building   Contribute to effective communications between Beirut office and field offices, and with partners Contribute to fostering a strong team spirit between MC staff and with partners Other Commitment to implementation of Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards (PM@MC) to ensure all project planning and documentation is completed in timely manner; Ensure interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy and Do No Harm strategies Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission; Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops; 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.   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:  N/A     ACCOUNTABILITY: Reports directly to:  Technical team leader Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, and HR department, YFT Program Team, Partners.   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:    BA/S or equivalent in social work, social sciences, human rights, or other relevant field preferred; Minimum of 4 years of experience performing required tasks in a complex emergency or relief context Experience working in youth projects with a child protection background required; Understanding of community based protection networks preferred; Experience in parent/caregiver engagement; Extensive experience in facilitation skills and providing trainings in a dynamic and active learning style approach; Strong understanding of national referral pathways; Strong understanding of refugee issues in the current Lebanon context; Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues and ability to work with refugee and host community populations; Demonstrated skills in data collection and database management, organized, and able to handle many responsibilities simultaneously; Mature, responsible, and diplomatic in their interactions with others; Good writing skills, including reports, best practices, case studies, etc; Ability to work independently with limited supervision, as well as part of a team; Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel and Word Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving; Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members;   SUCCESS FACTORS: A successful candidate will have the ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with host country government and other authorities as well as NGO and CBO representatives. S/he will have a record of accomplishment that demonstrates attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and successfully meeting programmatic deadlines, as well as anticipating program needs. Familiarity with Child Protection Systems strengthening approaches, Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Pyramid are essential. Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and a commitment to working with community members to create safe, nurturing places for youth that foster greater inclusion in the community and productive livelihoods. The ability to solve problems creatively, juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and diplomatically manage unexpected and sudden events affecting program operations is essential.   Able to work in Saida, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon.