Expression of Interest - Project Manager - AAP project

 Background

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) around 914,000 Palestinians were displaced between 1947 and 1949 as a result of the establishment of the state of Israel. The refugees fled to the Palestinian territories as well as to the neighboring countries Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Demographic growth has led to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees registered by UNRWA today. About a third of these refugees live in the 58 camps administered by UNRWA in the region. 450,000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Lebanon since 1948, of which today approximately 200.000 still reside in 12 camps and 42 informal settlements called ‘gatherings’ spread over five areas (Tyre, Saida, North Lebanon, Central Lebanon -including Beirut-, and the Bekaa Valley). The overall socio-economic situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is dire and levels of food insecurity and poverty follow an increasing trend. More than 70 years after their arrival in Lebanon, Palestinian refugees are still deprived of many basic rights. Among other factors, they are denied the right to own property and face restrictive labor market policies. Almost two thirds of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are considered poor and discriminatory laws hamper their ability to improve their living conditions. As a result, Palestinian refugees are forced to rely on UNRWA as their primary service provider. The pressure has become more severe since the beginning of the war in Syria. About 30.000 Palestinian refugees from Syria are residing in Lebanon. The intersection of these two marginalized refugee populations has produced additional material struggles and conflicts of identity. Organizational structures on local level are neither well established nor representative. Furthermore, they are only connected to other organizations on meso- and macro-level in a very limited way, which makes it impossible for them to properly represent the interests of the refugees. Due to the lack of legitimacy, unclear responsibilities and inefficient structures there are tensions and conflicts between the organizations themselves and in the refugee camps. Because of this, the Palestinian refugees and their representing organizations are not able to sufficiently participate in social processes targeting the improvement of their living conditions.

Consultancy objective:

UNRWA Communications and Public Information Department (CPID) is seeking a Project Manager for the Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) project to work under the direct supervision of Head of Communications and Public Information Office, in close coordination with the Protection Mainstreaming Officer, and in accordance with established Agency Policy and Procedures.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director (Programmes) for UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, in close coordination with the Head of the Communications and Public Information Office, and in accordance with established Agency Policy and Procedures, the incumbent will:

A. Leading on all aspects of the AAP Project in Lebanon.

- Leading project team formed of a team coordinator and four area communications coordinators;

- Advising on implementation and identifying operational, administrative, financial and other constraints which may affect project implementation and propose solutions to ensure quality, timeliness and cost effectiveness of deliverables;

- Developing and adjusting the project’s work plan in coordination with UNRWA management;

- Supporting the integration of AAP feedback into UNRWA Lebanon programming, working in close collaboration with programme staff;

- Ensuring alignment of AAP with the Protection Mainstreaming programme;

- Keeping colleagues at LFO regularly abreast of the project’s development and making recommendations to the LFO Front Office;

- Drafting regular reports and updating on project activities to donor (i.e. narrative reports and financial reports) in coordination with UNRWA Field Programme Support Office.

B. Strengthening refugee community engagement to inform UNRWA’s strategy, planning, programmes and projects in Lebanon.

- Enhancing communications with the community, including through social media and other tools.

- Facilitating community inputs into the annual planning process on a quarterly basis, in order to ensure that community priorities are taken into account.

- Supporting the Camp Improvement Plan (focus on communications and community engagement) in Rashidieh, Beddawi and Burj Barajneh camps.

- Advising on the feedback to the community on UNRWA programme interventions and challenges during the annual programme cycle, quarterly priorities and ensure community concerns are escalated to departments and projects.

- Reviewing in consultation with programmes, existing forms of engagement with the refugee community, including feedback mechanisms and beneficiary satisfaction surveys, and establish new ones as appropriate.

- Demonstrating UNRWA’s commitment to accountability to affected populations by ensuring that feedback and accountability mechanisms are integrated into planning, programmes, monitoring and evaluations and are highlighted in reporting.

- Based on the priorities decided, assisting programs in analyzing current programmatic response gaps and opportunities, identifying the strategic and operational actions needed to address prioritized needs and issues and defining objectives and milestones they will be accountable to while making sure not to raise expectations that cannot be met.

- Supporting programs in diagnosing barriers and opportunities to people-centered programming. Using the agreed methodologies, help identify and prioritize the specific affected groups and issues that require particular attention in their sectorial response. Some of this work follows on from current protection mainstreaming work and should build on it.

- Documenting methodology used, lessons learnt and good practices.

C. Developing feedback collection mechanisms

- Informing the design and development of a toolbox of research and feedback collection mechanisms (including, but not limited to: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, user research, mobile applications, satisfaction surveys, etc.)

- Advising on or conducting the above mechanisms to assess, measuring and evaluating the impact and perception of services provided by UNRWA in Lebanon Field Office to the affected populations.

- Supporting the analysis of feedback and data collected, in cooperation with relevant departmental colleagues, in order to provide actionable feedback to UNRWA programmes.

D. Monitoring and evaluation

- Designing, monitoring and evaluating the goals and objectives of programmes with the involvement of affected populations, feeding learning back into the organization on an ongoing basis and reporting on the results of the process.

- Producing regular reports on implementation and achievements.

- Ensuring that AAP principles are embedded in project-programme activities and cross-sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

MINIMUM Qualifications and Experience

• An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in social research or policy, community development or participation, communications, public relations or other related discipline;
• At least six years’ experience in the application of the knowledge acquired in social research or policy, community development or participation, communications, public relations or other related discipline, preferably in a large national or international organization; including 2 years of international experience outside one’s home country;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic is required.

COMPETENCIES

• In-depth understanding and experience in accountability to affected populations and support to refugees;
• Experience in facilitating senior management engagement with the community, in establishing feedback and complaints mechanisms, and in analysis of user and beneficiary feedback;
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communications skills;
• Ability to develop clear goals and identify priority activities and assignments;
• Proven critical thinking, creativity and innovative skills;
• Excellent drafting reporting and monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues and others in a team environment and with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and nationalities;
• Proficiency in relevant computer applications;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of UNRWA Rules and regulations;
• Knowledge of the Palestinian Community is an asset;
• Previous experience with a UN organization, NGO, or donor government;
• Experience with Adobe Suite is an asset;
• Experience in user-centered design, user research, or service design;
• Experience in project management and financial oversight;
• Experience in managing and motivating a small team.