LHIF Country Coordinator - Lebanon

P.S: Please ensure that you fill in all details before submitting your application on WebCruiter. Empty and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidate who meet the position's requirements will be contacted on a rolling basis. First review date will be week of October 22.

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s values. To be dedicated, innovative, inclusive and accountable are attitudes and believes that shall guide our actions and relationships. 

Background:

The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) is an independent network of 47 international NGOs operating in Lebanon to respond to the needs and promote the rights of people affected by the Syria crisis in Lebanon. The core function of LHIF is to facilitate coordination among members by: identifying strategic issues, advocating for common goals with a unified and consistent voice to influence policy and decision making, sharing information, and representing the forum with external stakeholders. LHIF also facilitates and provides representation of INGOs in response leadership bodies and works to enhance engagement of NGOs in response planning and coordination. LHIF is administratively hosted by NRC.

Role Summary:

The Country Coordinator of the Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) provides strategic and technical guidance to the LHIF Steering Committee and Plenary, spearheads joint LHIF advocacy and operational initiatives, and ensures consistent LHIF engagement with response leadership and planning mechanisms. The Country Coordinator leads the work of the Secretariat and represents LHIF internally and externally as necessary to support lobbying with key donors, UN agencies and Government Representatives.

Generic Responsibilities:

• Act as focal point for LHIF and represent the Forum externally, often to senior-level officials (including government representatives and UN) and in senior-level coordination bodies.
• Ensure that LHIF’s position on specific issues and interests are well represented at relevant platforms and meetings.
• Act as liaison and represent the Forum with local, regional and global NGO fora (such as ICVA and InterAction).
• Support LHIF members in developing and formulating common positioning, messaging and strategies on key humanitarian and operational issues.
• Spearhead and manage joint advocacy and operational initiatives, as agreed by members.
• In cooperation with the LHIF Steering Committee, oversee the LHIF Advocacy & Communications Advisor, Advocacy Focal Group and other LHIF thematic working groups in the development and implementation of LHIF advocacy strategies, identification of potential advocacy opportunities and consolidation of joint statements and talking points from LHIF.
• Follow and undertake analysis on issues relevant to the LHIF Strategic Directions; synthesize and provide briefings on key concerns for LHIF members.
• Research and draft policy, position and background/analysis papers on LHIF issues, as tasked by the Steering Committee or Plenary, and support LHIF members in identifying recommendations for moving forward.
• Ensure members are kept up-to-date on developments and consolidate member feedback to the UN, donors and government on issues related to the response strategy, management, coordination, and leadership.
• Attend relevant sector working groups, inter-agency, and other coordination meetings.
• Facilitate enhanced NGO engagement in coordination mechanisms through advocacy for NGO leadership positions, orientations for NGO staff, and other support as needed.
• Develop and maintain working contacts with relevant external stakeholders (e.g. RC/HC, UN agencies, donors, diplomats, MOSA, Red Cross, national NGOs, etc.)
• Organize any ad-hoc meetings or events with policy makers and relevant stakeholders in consultation with the LHIF SC to advance humanitarian issues raised by the LHIF.
• Support the LHIF Steering Committee in jointly representing LHIF in meetings with donor governments, the Government of Lebanon, the United Nations, national NGOs, and other external stakeholders, to convey views of the LHIF members. Coordinate and attend LHIF meetings with external stakeholders; consolidate key issues and talking points from LHIF members in advance of meetings; record and disseminate notes to all LHIF members following meetings.
• Facilitate and ensure consistent LHIF representation in response leadership and planning mechanisms, such as the LCRP Steering Committee and HCT.
• Represent LHIF in the Inter-Sector Working Group, and other coordination and planning mechanisms as delegated.
• Act as liaison and represent LHIF with the Syria INGO Regional Forum (SIRF), ICVA, InterAction, and other local, regional and global NGO fora.
• Draft and disseminate to various audiences any LHIF statement / position / press release agreed on by the LHIF. If relevant and agreed, organize press conferences and manage media relationships.
• Monitor and propose specific revisions as necessary to LHIF Governance Framework and Host Agency Agreement, for approval of the LHIF Steering Committee, Host Agency, and/or Plenary.
• Oversee the LHIF Steering Committee election processes.
• Undertake annual LHIF Strategic Planning, oversee implementation of and report on the agreed Strategic Directions.
• Manage LHIF membership and observer processes and fee collection.

Directly or via management of Secretariat staff:

• Organise and facilitate LHIF Plenary Meetings, LHIF Steering Committee Meetings, and the meetings of agreed LHIF sub-groups.
• Record and disseminate minutes of internal and external meetings to the LHIF members
• Maintain an up-to-date Contact List of all LHIF member and observer representatives, alternates, and issue focal points
• Facilitate improved information sharing and exchange by ensuring that relevant reports, announcements, developments, etc. are circulated to all LHIF members
• Plan and coordinate LHIF-sponsored trainings and workshops
• Maintain a “bird’s eye” mapping of LHIF member and observer sector, donor, beneficiary, and geographic coverage (to be updated quarterly)

In close coordination with the LHIF Host Agency:

• Manage LHIF Secretariat staff and consultants.
• Manage LHIF Secretariat budget and expenditures.
• Develop proposals, extensions and modifications to ensure ongoing funding for the LHIF Secretariat and LHIF initiatives.
• Timely reporting on LHIF funding and proposals.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage and provide strategic and technical expertise on joint advocacy and operational initiatives agreed on by LHIF members
• Support the LHIF Steering Committee in representing LHIF in different fora and meetings in Lebanon and abroad;
• Facilitate and ensure consistent LHIF engagement in response leadership and planning mechanisms, such as the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), HCT, and Inter-Sector;
• Lead the LHIF Secretariat, including management of activities, staff, administration and finances.

Critical Interfaces:

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• LHIF Secretariat and Steering Committee.
• Any LHIF Sub-committees which may be established from time to time.
• LHIF Membership.
• Humanitarian Country Team and UN Agencies.
• Working Groups; Inter-sector and Inter-Agency Groups.
• Donors, diplomats and media in country.

1. Competencies:

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

1. Professional Competencies:

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

Generic professional competencies for this position:

• Diplomatic and inter-personal skills a must, ability to build positive relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-organizational context.
• Strong leadership and management skills, including staff management, partner management, and financial management.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills, including ability to synthesize and effectively communicate complex issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Editorial and presentation abilities highly valued.
• Experienced in project and financial management.
• Language: Fluency in English required. Arabic skills a major asset. French a bonus.
• Computer proficiency

Context related skills, knowledge and experience:

• Master’s degree in humanitarian affairs, development studies, public policy, international relations, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• At least 7 years’ experience in humanitarian programming (ideally in protracted crises and/or post-conflict recovery), with at least 2 years’ experience in country program senior management. Experience in development contexts is an added value.
• Significant prior experience with humanitarian and/or NGO coordination essential, preferably in refugee or post-conflict settings. Previous experience with directly coordinating NGO networks or sectors/clusters strongly preferred.

•  Experience in representation within HCTs, ISCGs, and other IASC coordination mechanisms, as well as with Governments, donors and UN agencies. Knowledge and understanding of the UN system, humanitarian coordination architecture, and humanitarian principles essential.
• Experience developing or managing humanitarian policy analysis and advocacy initiatives.
• Experience working in the MENA region and/or with the Syria Crisis preferred.
• Expertise in strategic advocacy and networking and building alliances.

2. Behavioral Competencies:

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:

• Strategic thinking
• Empowering and building trust
• Influencing
• Managing resources to optimize results
• Planning and delivering results
• Handling insecure environments