Field Officer (Bekaa region)

ECODIT is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Field Officer for the USAID Lebanon Diverting Waste by Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity (the Activity). The Field Officer will primarily work in the Bekaa region, primarily working in the Rachaya el-Wadi and Qaraoun areas The Field officer will provide support to the DAWERR team and targeted municipalities to ensure community-based activities are effectively implemented.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

ECODIT is implementing the USAID DAWERR Activity, a five-year project that will establish sustainable and replicable integrated solid waste diversion and valorization solutions in different rural areas in Lebanon, leading to improved social and economic well-being for Lebanon’s population.  The Activity aligns with USAID/Lebanon’s desire to introduce financially sustainable solutions that increase the reuse, recycling, and monetization of solid waste to reduce the amount of solid waste that goes into landfills. The Activity has the following four objectives:

1. Build the capacity and commitment of municipalities to provide improved solid waste management (SWM) services either directly or indirectly;
2. Empower communities to sort at the source and participate actively in various stages of the recycling value chains (RVCs);
3. Develop successful business models that create green economic opportunities and generate net incomes along the value chains and
4. Provide tailored solutions to agrifood industries for treating and valorizing their organic waste.

The Activity’s performance period is August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2025.

During the first three years of the Activity, DAWERR worked with four municipalities -Baskinta, Jezzine, Rachaya el-Wadi, and Qaraoun- and supported them in developing SWM solutions at the individual/municipal level. For these Phase 1 unique solutions, DAWERR supported each of the four municipalities in:

• Designing and implementing sorting at source awareness and social behavior change (SBC) campaigns with local Community-based Based Organizations (CBOs);
• Selecting the most suitable technology for the treatment of organic waste and designing the composting station based on the chosen technology;
• Enhancing the existing value chains for recyclables;
• Developing a business model for the SWM solution, including but not limited to operating and maintaining the composting station and
• Assisting municipalities to create draft tender/bidding documents -based on the Public Procurement Law 244/2021- to engage Private Sector (PS) entities to provide SWM services (collection, treatment, disposal of different types of waste).

In addition to the Phase 1 municipalities, DAWERR started supporting three clusters of municipalities. These Phase 2 Clusters each bring together 3-4 municipalities under one SWM solution; they are:

1. Anfeh (host)[1], Bechmezzine, Kfarhazir and Fih, in the Koura District
2. Ras el-Matn (host), Qortada and Deir el-Harf, in the Baadba District
3. Ansariyyeh (host), Sarafand Loubieh, and Saksakiyyeh, in the Saida District

Moving forward, DAWERR will also expand the Phase 1 individual solutions and Phase 2 Cluster solutions into Phase 3 Cluster solutions to serve additional municipalities.  In addition, DAWERR will select up to four agrifood industries and assist them in treating and valorizing their organic waste.

Starting in early 2024, DAWERR will launch the construction works of the proposed composting stations, beginning with the Phase 1 individual SWM solutions.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall management of the Local Development Lead (LDL), the field officer will be based in the Bekaa area, primarily working in the Rachaya el Wadi and Qaraoun areas. As needed, the field officer will work closely with the field coordinator and the other DAWERR team. He/she will be undertaking the following tasks:

• Support in the organization, preparation, and implementation of community-based activities, including training, focus group discussion, and awareness activities.
• Support in maintaining regular follow-up and coordination with agrifood industries in the Bekaa region. (location to be determined)
• Assist in collecting data and gathering information to monitor and evaluate the impacts of DAWERR activities in the Bekaa area.
• Support in the regular coordination with the different local stakeholders (local authority and MSWM committee, CBOs, private sector, etc.) to ensure effective implementation of the SWM action plan.
• Assisted in following up on the implementation of the Social Behavior Plan, including awareness activities and campaigns, mobilizing influencers, etc.
• Support in following-up on properly implementing selective collection and other SWM services, as needed.
• Communicate on the progress of activities, including lessons learned, success stories, delays, challenges, and issues, and support in proposing and taking necessary actions.
• Support taking pictures on the field documenting the progress of works, field and SBC activities, etc.
• Follow up on the communication and feedback mechanism with the local communities and ensure data are analyzed and actions are taken accordingly.
• Perform any other tasks as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Social Work, Political Science, Sustainable Development, Environmental Management, or other related field;
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with local stakeholders, including local authorities, CSOs, CBOs, etc.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in working on local community projects;
• Experience working with international or national organizations is a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English;
• Strong understanding of political and socio-economic issues in Lebanon;
• Ability to multitask and monitor several projects on a daily basis; and
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively to the project sites
• Fluent in English and Arabic.