Community Support Associate

Support to Focus Group Discussions

The Focus Group Discussions (FGD) will take place in various locations in Lebanon (focusing on Saida and Tyre and occasional support in Beqaa area) with Palestinian Refugees from Syria in order to understand the feasibility of UNRWA in improving their access to territory, their access to the job market and the difficulties they face, access to UNRWA services, and to also learn more about the future plans of PRS in Lebanon and their protection environment.

The role and responsibilities of the Community Support Associate for the focus group discussions will be to coordinate with the Legal unit staff and Protection staff, the community and other interlocutors as deemed necessary for the organization of the FGD. The Community Support Associate will support the facilitation and/or note taking of the FGD and will produce a compilation of FGD findings. The Community Support Associate will provide occasional support conducting follow-up key interviews with Palestinian Refugees from Syria new arrivals upon request of the Protection staff.

Among other, the Community Support Associate will facilitate the preparation and conduction of a series of FGDs with Palestinian job-seekers benefitting from the services provided by UNRWA Employment Service Centers (ESCs), helping to gather qualitative data on the formal and informal challenges faced by Palestine youth to access the labor market across different sectors.

Support to awareness-raising activities with employers

The Community Support Associate will support the organization of awareness-raising activities for employers recruiting Palestine refugees, disseminating information on the employability of Palestine refugees according to the Lebanese law, as well as collecting information on the formal and informal challenges they face to hire Palestinians.

In coordination with the Legal unit staff and Protection Staff, as well as with the ESC staff, the Community Support Associate will facilitate outreach to employers from the community as well as Lebanese employers recruiting Palestinians, identified through the network of the ESCs and selected according to UNRWA advocacy strategy on right to work.

The Community Support Associate will support outreach to participants, facilitate the organization of the workshops, report on the results of the discussion and on eventual follow-up activities as needed.

Support to GBV and CP Focused Community Protection Structures

The Community Support Associate will be working closely with the GBV Coordinator and the CP officer supporting the coordination and organization of the established women and girls groups in Burj Shemali, El Buss, Rashidieh and Ein El Helweh camps with possible inclusion of Wavel Camp in Beqaa and as well as other community based mechanisms and structures, which include but are not limited to the following duties:

Support in the monitoring and evaluation of activities of the women and girl groups and other community based mechanisms and  structures with the GBV Coordinator and CP officer;

Support the review of women and girls committees and other community groups GBV and protection focused  written and visual material produced by the women and girl committees;

Map existing community-based structures and mechanisms in selected camps and develop a community mobilization plan aiming at empowering and engaging with stakeholders on protection related initiatives. 

Collaborate/consult with UNRWA departments, community members and external partners and to ensure coordination, coherence, and harmonization of community mobilization activities.

Attend and support the documentation of monthly visits to each committee meetings;

Provide translation support to the GBV Coordinator and CP Officer

Other duties, upon request of the Lebanon Field Office (LFO)-based Protection staff.