Project Assistant

Job Summary

The Project Assistant will work under a project  that aims at contributing to improved access to nutritious, local and diverse diets among crisis-affected people in Beirut (locals, refugees, internally displaced persons, migrants, children).  To achieve this objective, the project has two main expected results: (1) The capacities of Nation Station – a grassroot initiative operating a Community Kitchen in Beirut - are strengthened so that their services meet the needs of vulnerable groups and low-income consumers; and (2) Vulnerable smallholder farmers are trained on agroecological farming practices and supported to access fair markets.

Within the project framework, the Project Assistant will work mainly under the first expected result, with focus on launching a pilot for food distributions to underprivileged children in Beirut, as well as support Nation Station’s day-to-day operations.

The Project Assistant will report directly to the Project Manager, and be based in Mada’s Beirut office, with constant presence at Nation Station’s Community Kitchen in Geitawi.

This position is dependent upon signature with the donor.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

Project Implementation:

• Lead on the outreach, assessment and selection of nurseries/daycares to pilot the food distributions to children.
• Launch the food distributions to children in coordination with Nation Station’s Kitchen Manager.
• Support in conducting vulnerability assessments to identify and update beneficiary data, ensuring accurate targeting, for Nation Station’s distributions to vulnerable households.
• Lead on the identification of new households for the meal distributions.
• Raise challenges and opportunities from the field to the Project Manager and to Nation Station, to ensure adapting accordingly.
• Monitor the distributions to underprivileged children using tools provided by Mada.
• Coordinate with the project team to address operational challenges at Nation Station and facilitate the enhancement of facilities and space.
• Support the Project Manager in any day-to-day tasks related to the project, based on time and priorities.

Reporting, Documentation, and Procurement Support:

• Prepare progress reports to the Project Manager, documenting activities (photos, tracking activity sheet, etc.), challenges and lessons learnt.
• Maintain confidential records of beneficiary information collected during vulnerability assessments and meal distributions.
• Support in preparing procurement documents if needed.
• Participate in team meetings and briefings to discuss progress, challenges, and action plans, fostering transparency and open communication.
• Collaborate with Nation Station to gather feedback and address concerns related to project activities, and address it to the Project Manager.
• Participate in meetings and workshops aimed at fostering collaboration and idea exchange among project participants.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or related fields.
• 2-3 years of project implementation experience, preferably in humanitarian or development work.
• Desirable experience in food security, livelihoods, or community development projects.
• Ability to conduct needs assessments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership abilities to motivate project teams.
• Strong analytical skills for problem-solving.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles.
• Flexibility to work in challenging environments.
• Collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic required.