Project Assistant (Beirut & South Lebanon)

Location: Beirut office, with regular travel to all program areas (South, Nabatiyeh, Sour)

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level: 4

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 Project Assistant based in Beirut for the LHF-funded Emergency Program The project targets vulnerable displaced households and aims to improve access to WASH services for 52,502 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host families. Additionally, it focuses on awareness and sensitization for internally displaced women and girls in 12 villages in Nabatiyeh District, which are areas that are among the least assisted. Aligned with the 1st standard allocation of the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) 2024’s strategy, the project adopts a multi-sectoral approach, linking interventions in basic assistance, food security, and WASH sectors to provide comprehensive assistance. This includes expanding lifesaving assistance through emergency cash and food parcels and strengthening system interventions to ensure access to essential services like water and sanitation.
The primary objective is to enhance the ability of vulnerable populations affected by conflict in Nabatiyeh, South Lebanon, to meet their basic needs through comprehensive support, including emergency cash assistance (ECA), in-kind food parcels, and essential WASH interventions. The project aims to achieve several key outcomes, including improving the ability of vulnerable IDP households to cover basic needs through basic assistance, enhancing their ability to meet basic nutritional needs through improved food security, and increasing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services for affected communities. Implemented through a partnership between Mercy Corps and SHEILD, the project leverages our combined technical expertise and geographical positioning. Protection is mainstreamed across the program, with SHEILD ensuring appropriate measures are taken to protect participants and address any protection concerns. Localization is integral to the project design, with SHEILD’s deep local knowledge facilitating effective coordination with relevant local government bodies, thereby enhancing the sustainability and impact of the intervention

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Project Assistant will support the Project Manager in ensuring smooth implementation of the emergency response program and operations activities in the South/Nabatiyeh. Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Assistant 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 their area of expertise and serve as focal point for the coordination with selected beneficiaries, key stakeholders, donors, municipalities and relevant stakeholders.

Essential Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Support the Project Manager and program team in planning and implementing project activities in South 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 Manager.
• Support the Project Manager in implementing activities and monitoring of project progress.
• Ensure close coordination with local authorities, key stakeholders, DRM/DRR 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 project components when required.
• Support the Project Manager in conducting periodic risk assessments to update the implementation plan accordingly.
• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donors 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.
• Support in the procurement of the menstrual hygiene kits and distribution.
• Support in the procurement of food parcels kits and distribution.
• Support in the beneficiary selection/enrollment and data collection to conduct the month ECA assistance.
• Support the coordination with ministries, municipalities, Relevant water establishment and other local authorities due successfully implement the solarization of the well and the infrastructure rehabilitation needed.
• Support the local partner to conduct the needed awareness session (MHM, EORE etc.)
• 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.
• Supervise the enumerators to conduct the needed assessment/enrollment, etc.

Any other tasks that may be assigned by the Project Manager/Program Manager including but not limited to:

• Support in the implementation of the WASH component, outreach for beneficiaries.

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local officials including municipalities, ministries, local NGOs and INGOs, project partners, key community leaders, Water establishment, 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 basic assistance, food security, Wash, and livelihoods 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/enumerators

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Emergency Project Manager

Works Directly With: Emergency 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

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business administration, management, international development, or another relevant field.
• At least three years of experience and proven high level of competence in the emergency response, beneficiary outreach/selection, distribution, ECA .
• Experience of working in an emergency context is as asset.
• Flexible and hardworking, with the ability to work in an emergency situation.
• 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 South, including prior experience.
• Strong leadership and communication skills and sense of humor;
• Ability and interest to work with a multi-ethnic team in a culturally appropriate manner;
• Experience using basic software’s (Office 365, outlook).
• 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]).