Livelihoods Programme Development Manager (Food Systems and Partnerships) Lebanon - Open to national candidates

Background

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by displacement in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine. NRC’s interventions are based upon its programming expertise in six Core Competencies (CC): Shelter & Settlements, Education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS), Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), and Protection of vulnerable civilians affected by displacement against violence.  To support its work in these Core Competencies, NRC has also elected globally to focus on a few cross-cutting thematic areas, including Cash & Markets, Climate Change and Environment, Durable Solutions and Self-Reliance, Integrated Programming, as well as Safe and Inclusive Programming.

It is estimated that Lebanon has a total population of between 5.8-6.9 million people, made up of 2.86 million Lebanese, 1.5 million Syrian refugees, 257,000 Palestinian refugees,15,800 other refugees and 250,000 migrant workers. By December 2021, 53 percent of the Lebanese population (2.06 million people) were below the poverty line and in need of assistance and 46 percent were food insecure. By July 2022, 89.9 percent of the Syrian population were below the survival minimum expenditure basket and 67 percent of were food insecure. A socio-economic assessment of Palestinian refugees from Syria, conducted by UNRWA in 2020, showed that 87 percent were poor, and 11 percent were extremely poor, with these figures likely to be significantly greater now.

The overall goal of NRC’s livelihood programming is to increase the level of self-reliance of displacement-affected populations through their meaningful engagement with labour market systems. In order to foster this, NRC will focus on supporting the agri-food sector, and those working within it, to increase the availability of locally produced food and contribute to strengthen the sustainability of agricultural systems in the country. In addition to this, NRC’s LFS programs will work on supporting existing enterprises, and where appropriate new enterprises, primarily in the agri-food sector, along with those contributing to people’s access to safe and sufficient food, to continue to function and sustain livelihoods to themselves and their employees. To ensure the sustainability and localisation of LFS interventions, NRC will prioritise working in partnership with the wide network of local and international actors from the humanitarian, developmental, academic, public and private spheres to support people’s livelihoods and food security.

Job Purpose

The Livelihoods and Food Security (LFS) Programme Development Manager is responsible for the design, development and implementation of the LFS programme in Lebanon across the four area offices. The purpose of the position is to provide strategic direction, technical support, partnership and project development, financial oversight, and team management. The LFS Manager is responsible for mentoring, training, and capacity building of staff on technical capacity. The position will report to the Head of Programme.

What makes this position attractive

• Its a technical leadership role - the position is responsible for LFS Strategy and programming in the country providing technical guidance across all Area offices in Lebanon.
• Its an opportunity to work for an international organization and one of the leading INGO's in Lebanon.
• A challenging and exciting opportunity with an a dedicated team to advocating for the rights of people forced to flee.

We are also looking for people who share our values: 

• To be dedicated in what we do; 
• To be innovative with our solutions; 
• Empowering and building trust
• To be accountable to the donors that make our work possible; the beneficiaries that we exist to serve; and to each other… the members of our NRC family. 

What you will do

• Implement and further develop the Lebanon LFS strategy, technical SOPs and provide technical guidance, develop associated new technical programming tools and resources linked to the strategy, in synergy with other relevant CCs. Ensure regular contextual assessment and analysis to inform and adapt the LFS strategy and programming.
• Utilise the NRC Global LFS Strategy and Programme Policy, Core Competency  tools, handbooks and guidelines, ensuring compliance and adherence to all NRC policies, guidance and procedures.
• Develop and manage funding proposals, project budgets and donor reports. Lead on fundraising for the Livelihood program strategy, taking the lead on interfacing with donors and proposal writing. Proactively seek out and secure funding opportunities in support of the LFS strategy, partnership and programmes
• Directly line manage country office LFS staff and provide technical management to LFS team members based in area offices, recruiting new team members when needed. Identify what technical support is needed by the team and build their capacity, and transfer key technical skills as required and in line with strategy.
• Responsible for technical development and quality assurance of the LFS programme and identifying trends in technical standards and donor priorities.
• Lead and advocate internally and externally on sustainable LFS approaches at the individual, household and community level (regenerative, agro-ecology, nature-based etc.)
• Coordinate and manage LFS project implementation in collaboration with partners (activities, budget and project documentation) and in line with proposals, strategies and donor requirements. Ensure that activities are carried out in line with the M&E framework to measure progress towards the LFS theory of change and develop and review when needed
• Develop current LFS partnerships, liaising with all relevant internal NRC teams for capacity exchange, and seek out new partners and collaborators when appropriate.
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders and represent NRC in relevant coordination fora and directly with donors.
• Ensure that key learnings are extracted from FSL implementation, and incorporate them in the programme and staff development processes.
• Work with area offices to identify area specific LFS opportunities and work with other core competencies (CCs) to identify opportunities for integration and collaboration, to achieve joint objectives.
• Ensure Livelihoods programme quality throughout the programme cycle management (PCM) (including beneficiary participation, mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection, disability, environment, value for money, etc)
• Ensure that NRC’s related activities are implemented within NRC’s Protection mainstreaming guidelines and report any breaches or concerns to the line manager and/or focal point for proper action. 

Professional competencies, skills and qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of relevant Manager/Adviser experience in livelihoods and food security 
• Preferred experience in a range of sustainable LFS approaches (system based agricultural sustems, nature-based, agro-ecology, regenerative etc.) as well as local expertise working with partners.
• Skills related to and/or experience from driving organisational change processes
• Ability to provide leadership that creates engagement, buy-in and focus on finding solutions. 
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts
• Ability to fundraise and develop proposals
• Able to represent organisation at a strategic level
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Arabic is a strong advantage.

Context related skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Lebanon and/or neighbouring countries.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture, key actors and ongoing policy discussions related to LFS
• Knowledge and experience of holistic and integrated programming 
• Experience with engaging partners (private sector, municipalities, community organisations, international and national NGOs) 
• Ability to conceptualise and explain complex technical issues used in the LFS community to non-professionals
• Credibility and interpersonal skills required to provide leadership in a matrix structure.

Behavioural competencies

• Coping with change
• Empowering and building trust
• Working with people
• Analysing 

What We Offer

NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality and physical ability.

We offer an opportunity to match your career to a compelling cause and a chance to meet and work with people who are the best in their fields.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and join our work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility: At NRC we think outside the box. We encourage ideas and give responsibility to all employees at all levels, to help solve the complex issues that we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take initiative.

Additional information:

Grade:                                                         Grade 9

Reports to :                                                  Head of Programme

Duty station:                                                 Beirut, Lebanon

Travel:                                                          40% (to NRC operational related locations)  

Duration and type of contract:                      12 Months (Fixed-term, renewable based on funding, performance,                                                                                              and need for the position)

Salary:                                                          Based Upon NRC salary Scale.

For more detailed information, find the detailed Job Description

We invite applications from all qualified and interested national candidates. Send in your application by latest June 6th, 2023. 

Please ensure you attach copies of your academic and professional certificates.

For any queries, please email us at mero.recruitment@nrc.no with the "Job Title" as the subject.