Project Manager (WASH CFW) -North - Lebanese Nationals Only

Assignment

Under the supervision of the WASH Projects Coordinator, the Project Manager (WASH CFW) is responsible for the implementation of ACTED’s program funded by UNDP to implement a cash for work project in rainwater harvesting and water efficiency. The Project Manager works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Education and it’s TVET locations, or the Ministry of Social Affairs and its Social Development Centers where the project training activities are carried out, and provide general oversight for project staff and ensure timely and quality implementation. The Project Manager will ensure that all objectives are met within required timeframe and budget, with close consideration to quality and the sustainability of the action. The success of this project is reliant on on-going coordination and follow up with communities and local authorities, and as such the Project Manager will be based predominantly in the field.

1. Background

ACTED is an International Non-Governmental Organization registered in France with global operations in Central and South Asia, Europe, Middle-East and Africa. ACTED has been active in Lebanon since 2006 operating mainly in the North and Beirut and Mount Lebanon governorates of Lebanon. ACTED has been implementing cash for work in projects across different sectors such as WASH and Shelter, women’s empowerment and agriculture. With funding from the UNDP, ACTED will be implementing a cash for work program to improve water conservation and alleviate the negative impacts of the socio-economic (and COVID-19) crisis on vulnerable people in Lebanon. This will be achieved specifically through the installation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and water saving measures across the country targeting vulnerable and water-stressed communities. Moreover, 500 Syrian and Lebanese labourers (60% women) will be trained and employed throughout the program for the installation of the RWH systems and water saving fixtures.

1. Functions

The Project Manager shall be responsible for:

• 1. Project Implementation
• Plan the various stages of project implementation and ensure work plan stays on track;
• Guide the implementation of the assigned project and the methods of follow-up, with a focus on technical aspects and quality insurance through close monitoring;
• Manage project finances, logistics and materials in relation to cash for work activities;
• Assess the activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders (Ministry of Higher Education and Education and/or Ministry of Social Affairs) to select, equip and monitor locations for training of program beneficiaries
• Ensure quality of training of beneficiaries through oversight of technical trainers
• Development of Project Communications Plan, and coordination with ACTED’s Communication Officer to ensure regular creation of communications content (videos, social media, articles, beneficiary stories, etc.)
• Ensure visibility of project in line with donor regulations (including uniforms for beneficiaries)
• Develop site safety guidelines for cash for work beneficiaries and ensure implementation
• Liaise with all internal and external counterparts, ensuring coordination with Al Ostuan River Basin activities
• Development of weekly site monitoring reports at locations where cash for work training or activities are taking place

• 1. Technical Expertise
• Develop appropriate project tailor-made tools and methodologies in collaboration with the WASH Projects Coordinator, and the ACTED technical advisor;
• Development and management of beneficiary selection, tracking and reporting tools in line with UNDP guidelines and in coordination with ACTED’s M&E unit
• Development of tools in coordination with ACTED’s Finance team to ensure timely and compliant payment of cash for work beneficiaries
• Contributing technical inputs during tool development for which includes protection mainstreaming in line with ACTED’s Country strategy;
• Guide project staff on technical aspects of cash for work programming and advise on integration of protection mainstreaming activities;
• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination in order to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from best practice;
• Work closely with M&E department for beneficiaries’ and indicator measurement’s related assessments and donor reporting
• Monitor all community engagement activities
• Facilitate engagement between community and local authorities

• 1. Coordination and external representation
• Attending coordination meetings and working groups as requested; Take leadership positions when appropriate;
• Bilateral coordination with INGOs, LNGOs, CBOs and other relevant stakeholders to avoid duplication and collect information on gaps and needs;
• Coordination with SDCs, local authorities and relevant Governmental departments;
• Upon request, meet and represent ACTED at Donor meetings.

1. 1. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

The Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner.  Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies.  This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member.

• Ensure project staff adhere to ACTED’s Code of Conduct and treat all beneficiaries with respect and without any distinction or discrimination based on nationality, race, ethnicity, tribe, gender, religious beliefs, political opinion or disability;
• Help overseeing the appropriate, achievable and acceptable selection of project beneficiaries;
• Assist in the development a communication strategy with communities so that factual, objective and actionable information is provided to project stakeholders;
• Ensure clear information is provided to all cash for work beneficiaries on the processes to fill attendance sheets, retrieve cash from the bank, and complain in case they face difficulties;
• Follow-up on a weekly basis with the Finance Department and Bank to confirm cash for work beneficiaries have retrieved their payment
• Ensure project stakeholders are empowered to participate throughout the project cycle;
• Ensure that ACTED’s Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is communicated to target communities and solve complaints related to the project in coordination with the M&E unit.

• 1. Documenting and Compliance
• Ensure project records and documents, in particular documents that proof completion of activities (beneficiary list, donation certificates, attendance sheets, etc.) are adequately prepared, reviewed, compiled, shared and filed according to ACTED procedures and donor specific procedures, in a timely manner (both electronically and hard copies);
• Coordinate efficiently with both the support and program staff on the schedule of payments, hard copies preparation and sign off and raise immediately any issues to the relevant heads of department, and country coordination
• Ensure cash for work beneficiary data matches with their official documentation, for compliance and so they can retrieve their payment from the bank
• In coordination with the database team, maintain a beneficiary master database containing all beneficiary registration and baseline information as well as the activities from which the beneficiaries benefitted ensure the data is protected from misuse in line with ACTED’s data protection policy;
• Ensure staff awareness of, and respect of, ACTED’s code of conduct, FLATS procedures and donor requirements.

• 1. Internal Coordination
• Help organizing regular project coordination meetings with project team;
• Participate in Weekly Area Meetings (WAMs) and when requested/as relevant in Monthly Coordination meetings (MCMs), and provide updates about implementation progress, challenges, risks, changes in context.

• 1. Human Resource
• Help defining the structure of the project team and develop project organizational chart within the limitations of the budget;
• Assist the development and/or adjustment of ToRs outlining staff roles and responsibilities in line with ACTED standards;
• Support the submission of recruitment plan for the project to HR Department;
• Participate in the recruitment of technical project staff;
• Ensure that project staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities;
• Follow-up the work plans and day-to-day activities of the project staff;
• Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics;
• Undertake regular appraisals of staff and follow career management;
• Manage interpersonal conflicts;
• Ensure capacity building among staff in relevant sectors.
  1. Logistics
• Participate in the procurement planning processes, launch procurements required for the project in a timely manner, and follow procurements closely in collaboration with logistics;
• Send accurate and precise order forms in a timely manner;
• Check the quality of the required goods/supplies at the contracting stage as well as at reception point and contribute to procurements committees to finalize suppliers’ selection according to applicable scenario;
• Follow-up closely project stock levels in coordination with logistics, and monitor pro-actively current, pipeline, distributed and required stock;
• Participate in effective fleet management through timely and reasonable vehicle requests;
• Ensure that the project team has adequate assets necessary for performing its duties.

• 1. Finance
• Participate in the review of the BFU, and forecast initial and regular costs and cross-check expenditures for projects activities;
• Forecast monthly cash requirements of the project in a timely manner and as per ACTED procedures
• Ensure that the project team keeps track of lists of cash for work beneficiaries referred for cash payments for timely and accurate payments flow, and submit those to the Finance Department for spot checks ahead of each payment
• Follow up with the Finance Department on the status of purchase orders for the bank
• Participate in new budget development processes through the provision of expert programmatic advice related to contextual knowledge.                

• 1. Quality Control
• Participate in M&E planning processes and actively support the delivery of M&E activities in line with the project M&E framework and M&E Manual;
• Plan and organize internal qualitative assurance checks by the project team;
• Undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision as well as regularly monitor the progress of project activities;
• Discuss, plan and deliver appropriate corrective actions, including based on M&E findings and recommendations;
• Assist in the collection and application of appropriate lessons learnt and best practices to current projects, and ensure these lessons learnt are pro-actively shared with supervisor, the M&E unit and other team members to apply them in future project development processes.

• 1. Grant Management
• Report regularly on project activities, challenges and indicators through monthly submissions of the project management framework (PMF) and PM report; in particular provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to supervisors and other team members;
• Draft (external) project progress reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided;
• Organize of the project close-out meeting and follow-up on the project-related action points originating from this meeting;
• Participate in new proposal development processes through the provision of expert programmatic advice related to contextual knowledge;
• Where relevant, liaise with donors and work closely with partners on project updates, site visits and other communication, in coordination with the Project Development Unit.

1. Key Performance Indicators

• % of consolidated up to date PMF shared with country coordination on a monthly basis
• % of contractual performance indicators achieved
• Clean and comprehensive project records and documents (beneficiary lists, donation certificates, attendance sheets, payment sheets) available for all project activities in a timely manner
• Positive monitoring and evaluation reports (internal and external)
• % of staff members trained on accountability and the CRM

1. Knowledge, skills

• University degree in environmental science, development studies, economics, Project Management or any other relevant field for the position.
• 3-5 years of experience in similar position and specifically in Cash for Work, in Lebanon with an INGO and/or UN agency;
• Fluent in Arabic, with excellent written and verbal English skills and the ability to work in an international context.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and external relations;
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Independent, adaptable, flexible and hardworking;
• Strong humanitarian motivation and understanding of international assistance.
• Proven experience in dealing with local and Governmental stakeholders;
• Prior experience using basic computer software required, notably in word and excel;
• Previous experience working with a variety of stakeholders in humanitarian or development aid.