Senior Project Officer – Education & violence prevention

Job Purpose

The post holder will be responsible for coordination and implementation of a 15-months project on ending violence against children and strengthening the role of the formal and non-formal education providers in violence prevention. The project is implemented by International Alert in partnership with four organisations that work directly with Lebanese schools or operate learning centres. In addition, the post holder will also support other Team members working on education and social cohesion projects across the Country Programme portfolio.

International Alert is a leading peacebuilding NGO, with 30 years of experience in preventing violence. We have been working in Lebanon since 2008. Our thematic focus areas include peace education and non-violent education, youth participation, gender equality and addressing the underlying causes of conflict related to human rights abuses, gender inequality, social and economic exclusion and insecurity. Alert is committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Ending Violence Against Children project aims to increase the capacity of schools and learning centres to reduce violence against children and generate evidence of the effectiveness of various approaches. It will be implemented in areas affected by the Beirut blast and in areas in Tripoli and the Bekaa with high concentration of refugees, targeting directly teachers and educators, children and their caregivers through face to face and virtual activities. The project will generate evidence through action research on effectiveness of approaches to addressing violence against children, including school-based and learning centre-based and community-based approaches.

Prevention and response will be strengthened through supporting schools and learning centres to improve their existing capacities through appreciative inquiry, training and accompaniment, activities for Syrian refugee and Lebanese children, and development of child safeguarding policies. In addition to supporting capacities of education actors, the project seeks to shift social norms and behaviours through strong parental engagement, peace education, and community initiatives involving authorities, learning centres and members of the Lebanese and refugee communities.

The post holder will be responsible for the project activities on both process and result levels. S/he will ensure implementation of activities and keep the project oriented towards its intended results. In addition to managing Alert’s activities, the post holder will be ensuring a close coordination between the different partners, partners’ collaboration on joint activities such as the action research and advocacy, and be responsible for donor reporting and compliance with child safeguarding principles.

The post holder will report to the Country Director and will work closely with the Senior Advisor, the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer, the Programmes Manager and the Senior Finance & Grants Compliance Officer based in Beirut, as well as the Field Coordinator based in Bekaa. S/he will supervise short-term consultants contracted for research and training delivery

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project Implementation

• Take the overall responsibility for the effective delivery and coordination of activities of the STL project and support other projects related to education
• Co-chair the partnership management working group
• Manage the implementation of all Alert-led activities on the project, including community-based activities on preventing violence against children
• In collaboration with the Senior Advisor, lead on the collaborative design of the action research, its implementation, results validation and sharing of findings
• In collaboration with the Communications Officer, ensure that evidence and learning generated through the project are shared with key stakeholders and inform policy and programmes on education, child protection and social stability
• Lead on advocacy events and conferences
• Select and supervise consultants to conduct action research
• In collaboration with the Sr. MEL Officer, ensure that a MEL system is in place, and monitoring data is collected by all partners, reviewed, analysed and informs project implementation
• Prepare donor reports and project completion reports, including financial reports
• Coordinate and follow-up with all partners on the delivery of project activities in accordance with agreed plans
• Maintain positive relationships and regularly update relevant authorities, local actors and partners.
• Engage with relevant authorities and organisations to advance the objectives of the project and advocate for policy and programming supporting social cohesion.
• Coordinate the project with other projects in the education & peacebuilding portfolio and ensure synergies, with special attention to advocacy and external communications, and relations with the authorities

2. Grants Management and Donor Liaison

• Develop a detailed action plan and budget forecast and ensure activities are implemented in accordance with the agreed plans and budget
• Receive monthly project financial data from Finance and Admin colleagues and review for variances to avoid overspending or under spending
• Administer financial tasks related to project implementation, including preparation of money transfers, cash requests, processing of invoices and donor financial reporting
• Coordinate with Programmes Manager on tracking partners’ implementations and spending in aligned with project plans and financial forecasts
• Ensure the effective recording, documentation, and filing of project activities, internal and external project meetings
• Produce narrative and financial reports to the donor
• Maintain positive relations with the donor agency and provide regular updates, especially at critical junctions of the project implementation

1. Project design, monitoring and evaluation

• Contribute and develop ideas for new projects, building upon the impact achieved by existing projects.
• Together with the MEL Manager and Senior Advisor, set up a monitoring and evaluation plans, and ensure monitoring data is collected as planned.
• Monitor project progress and impact and adjust indicators and activities if necessary.
• Oversee project evaluations, ensuring appropriate management responses if necessary.
• Disseminate findings of evaluations and ongoing monitoring and lessons learned internally and externally.

4. Contribute to Alert strategies and policies

• Contribute to team-wide communications and knowledge management, and participate in organisation-wide events and discussions on related topics/projects
• Contribute to the review and strengthening of organisational child safeguarding policies and processes.
• Coordinate Alert’s and Partners’ safeguarding process for this project, including through a case management group, working closely with the Lebanon Country Management Team, Alert HQ Safeguarding Focal Point and partners to regularly monitor adherence to safeguarding procedures and process. In collaboration with the Senior Adviser and Country Director, liaise with the donor on safeguarding issues.
• Represent Alert’s values and ideas and be a spokesperson for the organisation at relevant conferences, seminars and other meetings and online events
• Contribute to organisation-wide learning and exchange on the use of dialogue as methodology for peacebuilding
• Any other tasks as may be reasonably required

Travel requirements

This post is based in Beirut, Lebanon, with travel to Bekaa and Tripoli.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Talents

At Alert, we have introduced Talent Management to our business model as we believe talented people are crucial to the success of our work.  We believe all individuals are talented and success comes in matching the right talents to the right roles. For this role, the skills, qualifications and experience listed below are important, but we believe that to be great in this job you are likely, first and foremost, to have a talent for communicating with men and women with diverse backgrounds, and strive to reach understanding and build consensus. 

This is what we will be looking for above all else.

A degree- Master’s level, in a subject of relevance to international peacebuilding

At least 2-years of experience in project management, coordinating with partners and donor reporting with proven success

Fluent in Arabic and English, and communicates clearly and effectively

Knowledge of Lebanese education system and understanding of the impact of the Syria crisis on Lebanon

Excellent inter-personal, communication and presentation skills

Ability to influence and motivate others

Ability to be a team player

Demonstrates the ability to take initiative

Commitment to the mission and vision of International Alert

Ability to work well with people of diverse backgrounds and in diverse roles

Solution-oriented

Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of safeguarding and child protection.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

At least 3 years successful experience of implementing or coordinating projects; field experience, including working directly with stakeholders in the regions, is an asset

Understanding of issues related to education and social stability

Experience working and liaising with intuitional stakeholders, in particular MEHE.

Experience with action research, mentoring and coaching

Knowledge and experience in the peacebuilding sector

Understanding of and commitment to safeguarding and child protection

SUMMARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Annual Salary

Competitive annual salary based on our salary scale for Lebanese nationals

Benefits

Private insurance and NSSF

Leave entitlement

25 days per year plus Lebanese statutory holidays

Notice period

One month on either side

Working hours

Full time staff are expected to work a standard 35 hours/week, with some flexibility around start and finish times to be agreed with the line manager. All staff are required to work core hours 10am – 4pm.