Business Development Specialist - Extended Advertisement

CARE is a leading relief and development non-governmental organization fighting global poverty. Established in 1946, it is now a confederation composed of 14 members and 4 affiliates. In 2016, CARE worked in 84 countries around the world, supporting development and humanitarian aid projects to reach more than 83 million people. While CARE is a large international organization with more than 11,000 employees worldwide, we have a strong local presence: 95% of our staff are nationals of the countries where our programs are run.

CARE is implementing a capacity building and livelihood community-based agriculture project that seeks to address critical capacity gaps along targeted value chains at both the individual, communal and institutional levels This position is responsible for the outreach, implementation, follow up, and quality maintenance for the Agricultural Training activities, GHP/GMP, Food processing trainings, and GMP according to donor’s request with the support of the team.

The BDS Specialist will contribute to the implementation of CIL livelihood project. This position will specifically be working in a team aiming to support farmers and agrofood processors in North Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and the South.

The project approach is to contribute to improvement of access to sustainable livelihoods opportunities benefitting vulnerable households and individuals, particularly women and youth in the agri-food industry.

CARE International in Lebanon (CiL) supports local businesses and individuals. The BDS Specialist will primarily contribute to the achievement of the project by working on strengthening the employability of vulnerable individuals, identifying potential opportunities for farmers and agrifood processors (existing and scalable micro, small and medium enterprises /MSMEs), and facilitating access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability (capacity building on best practices, access to finance and access to market).

Responsibility #1: Project Implementation

• Ensure that overall project implementation as per donor agreement and CARE guidelines and agreed implementation strategy is carried out on time with quality provision of services
• Develop programs and activities to strengthen the employability of vulnerable individuals, identifying potential opportunities and placement arrangements to apply these skills, building the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (farmers and agrofood processors) to access available economic opportunities and facilitating access to the necessary inputs to support their sustainability.
• Conduct quality BDS delivery to MSMEs and monitor outputs including the development of an assessment of each food processing beneficiary.
• Conduct business training for farmers
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to provide support to farmers and agrofood processors.
• Ensure the proper implementation of technical training for farmers and agrofood processors, LS, PSS and technical training for youth and vulnerable women.
• Lead in the identification of beneficiary MSMEs and farmers in the designated area of supervision working with the BDS specialists in the other project sites and ensure high quality data collection.
• Other tasks, associated with the above may arise. 

Responsibility #2: Reporting & Information sharing

• Draft narrative and quantitative reports as per CARE internal requirements and donor requirements.
• Ensure internal communication and information sharing on project with relevant staff (Livelihood manager & SME specialist, Communication, Advocacy and Information management focal point, M&E team etc.).
• Representation and Coordination
• Support the Project Manager in ensuring CARE representation in the relevant technical coordination meetings at field level and all relevant forums at the field level and vis-à-vis relevant actors and partners as relevant to the project (MSME/Private Sector, municipalities, UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, community focal points, etc.).
• Support in the organization of field visits by donors, peer agencies, CARE Members, Media, etc.
• The BDS officer will also have to fulfill any other task as requested by her/his supervisor depending on the programmatic priorities in the Field Office.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS ASSIGNED BY LINE MANAGER

 Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

• Experience in implementing Value Chain projects.
• Extensive knowledge in Microsoft Excel
• Extensive experience in reporting following WFP’s SOPs
• Extensive experience interacting with and relating to gender professionals and international stakeholders at senior level.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong internal relationships and networks.
• Motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a collaborative and international environment

 Experience

3 years’ minimum experience with INGOs, preferably in Livelihoods, or related sectors, which would include experience with the following activities:

•             MSME support (access to finance, access to market, capacity building, etc.)

•             Implementation of skills development and employability trainings programs

•             SME and local economy knowledge 

•             Community mobilization 

•             Training and facilitation for staff and community groups

Academic background

Bachelor’s Degree Field of education: Business, Economics, Management or other related field.

1. English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International in Lebanon.

Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

PSEA and Save Guarding Child policy

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.