Senior Project Officer - Tripoli (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

Location: Tripoli office, with regular travel to all program areas (Beirut and North)

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level: 6

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs focus on four sectors:  Economic Opportunities, Governance and Social Stability, Youth Engagement, and Humanitarian interventions. The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 100 staff working across four offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps is looking for a Senior Project Officer based in Tripoli for the AFD-funded BASATINE Program (Bolstering Agriculture Systems’ Ability to Invest, Nourish, and Employ). CARE International is the consortium lead while Mercy Corps is the lead on two of the five components. The intervention aims to immediately address food insecurity and provide needed income and technical support to farmers to survive the current crisis in the short-term, and to improve the capacity of food systems to maintain employment and growth over the longer term via stronger domestic production and system linkages. Mercy Corps will lead on improved market linkages within the agricultural sector by working with input suppliers and with SMEs within the agro-food industry, and on the generation of evidence through research and regular MEL activities to promote evidence-based sector development.

The program seeks to strike a balance between short-term urgent and ever evolving humanitarian needs of agricultural producers, and the longer-term building up and facilitation of more efficient market systems supporting the sector. It seeks to address barriers and challenges to increased domestic production along the agriculture value chain(s) that is operationally and financially sustainable. It seeks to identify and scale up potential import substitutes for domestic market consumption and increased food security, while also identifying and addressing barriers to access export markets for improved trade and hard currency generation. The intervention will mainly focus on wheat and vegetables value chains, while also integrating segments of other value chains (poultry, potatoes, trees, etc.) to ensure that it follows a territorial approach. The program will have a strong MEL, research and learning agenda to provide ongoing evidence-based adaptation internally and the generation of actionable, contextualized research for humanitarian and development practitioners, donors, local and national level public sector, and private sector actors.

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Senior Project Officer will support the Project Manager in ensuring smooth implementation of Basatine program and operations’ activities in Bekaa under Specific Objective 3: “Agriculture sector actors engage in improved market activities, resources, and trade relationships' '. Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, he/she will work with the program team and Consortium partners to achieve key deliverables and ensure that all activities are adequately achieved on time and within budget. The successful candidate will provide technical support in his/ her area of expertise and serve as focal point for the coordination with selected businesses, key stakeholders, private sector and market actors in the Agriculture sector and ensure proper planning, implementation and monitoring of e-voucher supporting Basatine farmers with agricultural inputs.

Essential Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Support the Project Manager and program team in planning and implementing project activities in Bekaa region to meet project deliverables based on timeline and scope agreed with the donor;
• Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative, financial and logistical support. Troubleshoot any administrative problems and report any challenges or bottlenecks to Project
• Support the Program Manager and the Project Manager in implementing activities and monitoring of project progress;
• Ensure close coordination with local authorities, value chain actors, private sector and key stakeholders to introduce the project and facilitate access to information related to project activities and scope.
• Participate in team planning and coordination meetings and training.
• Work closely with field project partners to schedule field visits for other project components when required.
• Support the Program Manager and Project Manager in conducting periodic risk assessments to update implementation plan accordingly;
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting.
• Ensure activities filling, record keeping and means of verification are being collected for the MEL team to evaluate progress of work against indicators.
• Assist in analysis of data collected to facilitate assessment results and lessons learnt;
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, Mercy Corps policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations. Facilitate internal Mercy Corps procurement processes;
• Prepare weekly reports to be submitted to the Project Manager. Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Project Coordination for E-Voucher component
• Support the Program and Project Managers to implement the E-Voucher component including design of the strategy, processes and tools for this component as well as their adaptation along the program;
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and Program Manager to develop detailed plans for e-voucher program implementation.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including beneficiaries, producers, suppliers, and partner organizations, to ensure smooth program execution.
• Provide training and support to beneficiaries, producers on how to use e-vouchers and access goods or services through designated suppliers.
• Liaise with suppliers to ensure they understand and comply with the terms and conditions of the e-voucher program.
• Monitor suppliers performance, including pricing, product quality, and service delivery, and address any issues or discrepancies that arise.
• Conduct periodic assessments of suppliers to evaluate their suitability and performance within the program.
• Ensure transparent and accurate reconciliation of e-voucher transactions, to guarantee accountability and efficiency with the program support coordinator and program manager.
• Provide technical support to beneficiaries and suppliers experiencing difficulties with e-voucher technology or processes.
• Safeguard the integrity and security of e-voucher data, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and organizational policies.
• Ensure that E-Voucher support-related interventions are in compliance with international norms and standards, national laws and policies, technical standards and organizational policies.
• Assist with monitoring and evaluation (M&E), accountability and learning systems for optimal support.
• Report all challenges and field observations and fill the trackers accordingly.

Other tasks

• Any other tasks that may be assigned by the Project Manager/Program Manager including but not limited to:
• Support in the implementation of the SME component.
• Support in the implementation of the Inputs component.
• Coordination and Representation
• Liaise with local officials including municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, local NGOs and INGOs, project partners, key community leaders, SMEs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful deliverables.
• Collaborate with other departments within Mercy Corps, including finance, logistics, and communications, to ensure integrated program delivery.
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the livelihoods and economic development sector.
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings, where relevant.

Other

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in Lebanon.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Other duties as assigned.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourage openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve.  We expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Supervisory Responsibility

Daily workers and interns

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Bekaa Project Manager

Works Directly With: BASATINE Program team, MC Support Departments (MEL, HR, Finance, Operations), other consortium partners.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business administration, management, international development, Agri-business management or another relevant field.
• At least five years of experience and proven high level of competence in the development sector, supporting farmers, usage of voucher/ E-voucher for input distribution,
• Experience of working with corporate, private sector, agriculture and agro food businesses will be an asset
• Experience in business development, understanding and assessing business performance, financial statements, understanding sales and marketing activities.
• Experience with relief and socio-economic development work across a range of stakeholders including Private Sector, NGOs, and Local government;
• Deep knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context, protection threats, economic challenges, social stability and resilience mechanisms, relevant to internal conflict preferred;
• Significant knowledge and understanding of the current political, economic, cultural and historical context of Bekaa, including prior experience.
• Proven track record in staff and stakeholder training and capacity building;
• Strong leadership and communication skills and sense of humor;
• Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner; and
• Proficiency in English is essential. 

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to promote new approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.  Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).