Platform Project Coordinator

Mada is recruiting a Project Coordinator to develop Mada’s Platform and to work with the supported groups, starting in July 2021.

The Platform is a space that offers flexible support for civil society groups to help them grow and reach their full potential. Active since 2005, it has supported many groups and organizations, such as artistic communities, municipalities, environmental associations, informal community-based initiatives, early-stage social businesses, etc… Since the end of 2019, the Platform has grown in capacity which has enabled it to open up to new groups and offer closer support. Currently, the Platform is supporting 7 groups including two social enterprises, two local associations, a food cooperative, and two educational initiatives.

Among other services, the Platform offers support in terms of sharing experience and contacts, implementing tailored guidance, finding the right expertise, and supporting the institutionalization of early-stage organizations. It also provides services such as accounting and financial expertise, legal advice, communication and logistics support. The Platform adopts an inclusive approach and is open to new members and to external groups in need of ad hoc support (referrals, sharing expertise, etc.).

Job Overview

The Platform Coordinator is responsible for all the operational activities under Mada’s Platform. In collaboration with the Program manager and the Platform accounting and admin officer, the Coordinator will contribute to the development of the Platform’s inclusive approach while ensuring continuous support to the supported groups.  

Timeframe of the mission

The Coordinator will work full-time (5 days per week) from July 2021 until end of March 2022, with a possibility of extension, depending on funds available.

Main work interfaces:

The Coordinator reports directly to the Program Manager and coordinates with the Admin team for all administrative matters, including accounting and procurement requirements and contracting. S/he manages the Platform’s accounting and administrative officer.

S/he will work from Mada’s office in Beirut, located in the area of Ain el Remmaneh, and will conduct regular field visits in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

Main Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Ensure that the project/activities under his/her responsibility are delivered within budget, on time, and in line with the project proposals, timeline and logical frameworks.
• Ensure constant follow-up with the supported groups to identify needs and adapt support, and update objectives on a quarterly basis, in coordination with the Program Manager.
• Follow up on the missions of consultants who provide technical support to the supported groups.
• Liaise with the project partner(s) to ensure proper implementation and meeting the targets and objectives of the projects.

Develop the Platform’s inclusive approach

• Foster an inclusive environment with the groups and partners of the Platform, by encouraging exchanges on relevant themes and by organizing collective meetings.
• Share methodological tools and templates to facilitate the groups’ work.
• Identify resource people who are willing to support on a volunteer basis and other capacity building programs and actors and refer them to the groups when relevant.
• Constitute and develop a pool of experts which can support him/her in providing technical services to the supported groups, such as accounting, financial, business development, legal, and communication services.
• Create a database accessible to all partners of all the resource persons who could be of interest to the supported groups.
• Prepare and share the Platform’s Newsletter on a quarterly basis, highlighting successes and challenges.
• Constant efforts to identify new groups throughout Lebanon and promote diversity and inclusiveness under the Platform. Identification of groups outside of Lebanon is a plus. Efforts to identify new groups in the North (Mada’s main area of work) is required.
• Participate in the Taskforce meetings and participate to the strategic review of the Platform.

Reporting and Financial Management  

• In coordination with the Program Manager, set targets and objectives and ensure internal reporting on a bi-monthly basis.
• Draft external narrative reports for the donors in collaboration with the Program Manager.
• Manage the budgets for the project/activities under his/her responsibility under the supervision and in coordination with the Program manager.
• Ensure payments/purchases are within budget limits and meet requirements.
• Coordinate with the Admin and Finance Manager to provide supporting documentation, quotations, and any other required documents. 

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Support the Program manager in proposal writing. 
• Work with the Program Manager on donor communication and engagement (current and potential donors). This includes formal and informal (ad-hoc) communication.

Knowledge and Skills

• Full adherence to Mada’s mission and vision, as well as Ethics Code.
• 3-5 years of experience working in NGOs in the development sector.
• Good organizational, coordination and time-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluent in English and Arabic; French is a plus.
• Computer literate.
• Experience in Project Cycle Management.
• Experience in proposal development.
• Experience working in Lebanon.
• Proactive, flexible and dynamic.