Micro Enterprise Support Officer - Akkar

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and is at work in over 40 countries.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the IRC provides income and livelihoods support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities, through its Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Program. The objective of the program is to empower non-Lebanese and Lebanese host communities in economic economically resilient. assist vulnerable households in the most affected areas of the Akkar and Mount Lebanon in meeting their essential needs and increasing their self-reliance; this is expected to ultimately lessen the use of negative coping strategies for survival.

Interventions include unconditional cash assistance, financial management training, cash for work, access to training and business development opportunities, legal and job counseling, and job referrals through a livelihoods center. In addition, the IRC has developed a private sector initiative aimed at (1) strengthening the capacity of existing employers to expand employment opportunities and (2) supporting the startup of microenterprises. Additional market assessments and other research are conducted under this program. The main target groups are acutely vulnerable registered and unregistered Syrian refugees and Lebanese households.

The ERD program has developed synergies with the other programs implemented by the IRC in Lebanon, particularly working closely with the Protection sector to mainstream protection principles into livelihoods approaches and expand program offerings. The ERD program has also sought synergies with the Women’s Protection and Empowerment and Children Protection sectors.

 

Job Overview/Summary

The Microenterprise Support and Apprenticeship Officer will be responsible for leading efforts to support existing employers and new micro-entrepreneurs to develop their businesses, acquire skills and gain access to finance. In addition, the Officer will initiate and follow-up the ongoing apprenticeship schemes until new fund is awarded.

 

Major Responsibilities

General Responsibilities:

• Developing detailed activity plans in line with program objectives, ensuring that those plans are implemented and any expected delays and/or modifications are communicated and raised in a timely manner with the Senior Micro Enterprise Support Officer
• Frequent travel to Wadi Khaled Center to support Micro Enterprise entrepreneurs in drafting business plans and other forms for participating in the IRC Cash grant application.
• Support SMESO in Der Dalloum in scheme submissions, follow up with clients, contracts, BOB Receipts, phone calls and other required tasks
• Provide training sessions and Business Development Services/business coaching to micro- entrepreneurs/ERD program beneficiaries
• Follow up with ERD Partners, Consultants, and service providers for program implementation.
• Suggest to the SMESO amendments to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for microenterprise support, as needed
• Produce statistics and reports, as and when required
• Identify opportunities for program development and communicate these to the SMESO

Support to Existing Employers:

• Conduct assessments to determine challenges, gaps, and support needs of local vendors and MSMEs when needed.
• Carry out assessments and analyze data to determine specific interventions that would help businesses better manage day to day needs and support overall growth.
• With the Sr. Microenterprise Support Program Officer, identify targeted business skills and financial management training needs of ERD program beneficiaries (including MSME)
• With the Sr. Microenterprise Support Program Officer, identify, adapt, develop relevant training materials and corresponding monitoring tools
• Ensure appropriate supervision of trainings delivered by MFI partner
• Participate in designing and leading the collection and analysis of data on relevant trainings and any follow up with participants

 

Support to New Entrepreneurs:

• Coordinate entrepreneur referrals, working closely with ERD Colleagues at the Livelihoods Center
• Adjust support models based on feedback from SMEs and monitoring information.

 

Other:

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

 

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Senior Micro Enterprise Support Officer
• Position directly supervisors: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

• External: Employers, Partners, MFIs (Microfinance Institutions)
• Internal: Job Counselor, Senior livelihoods Officer, Legal Counselor, Protection Mainstreaming Officer, and other ERD colleagues

 Job Qualifications

Education:

• University Degree in Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, or a related field.
• Postgraduate degree is an advantage, but it is not required.

Work Experience:

• 2-3 years of experience working with or in the private sector.
• Previous experience in the areas of microfinance, business planning or business management is a plus.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of private sector situation/networks in Lebanon.
• Public speaking and presentation skills.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Strong project planning and strategic design skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically Word and Excel) and web-based applications.

Language Skills:

• Fluent in oral and written Arabic with strong English skills.

 

Working Environment

Travel and other requirements: Staff will be based in Der Dalloum center. travels will be required and mandatory to Wadi Khaled and some to Mkaless, Mount Lebanon and the main IRC office in Beirut in addition to the normal day- to-day job-related movement.

 

WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY