UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

  • Project: Support to economic recovery, community security and social cohesion in Lebanese communities affected by the Syrian Crisis Project
  • Classified Level: NPSA 9
  • Contract Type: Regular
  • Office or Home-based: Office Based
  • Institutional Arrangement: The selected incumbent will be working under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor and under the direct supervision of the Livelihood and Local Economic Development (L-LED) Specialist.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) launched in 2013 the "Lebanese Host Communities Support Program" (LHSP) as a comprehensive, coordinated and durable response towards the Syrian Refugee Crisis and its implications on the country. The project is developed under the overall Lebanon response to the crisis (Lebanon Crisis Response Plan – LCRP) and a number of guiding principles which drive the activities of MoSA and UNDP to support Lebanon and the host communities, as well to support national and local institutions through capacity building to respond to the impact of the Syrian crisis in Lebanon and the pre-existing problems before the Syrian crisis and exacerbated by the current situation.

LHSP seeks to help increase stability, specifically in the areas affected by the Syrian crisis, through improving livelihood and service provision in a conflict sensitive manner. It aims at contributing to improved social stability in the affected areas through a community-based approach which will increase livelihood options and local level service delivery. LHSP aims to achieve three main goals:

1. Increase the livelihoods and economic opportunities mainly in affected areas
2. Strengthen the capacity of local and national actors to assess and respond to the needs and risks in a community participatory driven and conflict sensitive approach.
3. Improve the local level dispute resolution and community security.

While the gender gap in Lebanon is not new the trend has been downward since the onset of the Syrian crisis. In 2010 Lebanon ranked as 116th country out 142 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report. In 2016 Lebanon had dropped to a rank of 135 out of 144 countries. The main challenges for gender equality being related to economic participation and opportunity (labour force participation, estimated earned income in comparison with men and control over assets) as well as women’s political empowerment. ¹ Women face limited employment opportunities and they often work in lower paid positions, particularly in the informal sector without social protection.² Women are predominantly active in the services and agriculture sectors.

Even though most legal barriers to Lebanese women’s economic participation have been removed, as they have the civil and independent right to monetary possessions, financial management and spending (CRTD_A 2006), the Lebanese labour market still suffers from low participation of women. In spite of a greater number of women obtaining university degrees compared to men; only 25% of the Lebanese workforce is women. Moreover, women in the Lebanese workforce are generally paid less than men working in the same position (75% of the salary of men).³ For Syrian women in Lebanon the gender related risks may be further pronounced as most Syrian refugees are living in difficult socio-economic conditions with limited livelihood resources.

Under the overall guidance of the CTA of LHSP and direct supervision of Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Specialist, the Project Coordinator, will be responsible for the timely and successful implementation of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, within the framework of the Lebanon Host Communities Support Programme (LHSP). This will include managing, planning, monitoring, reporting, supervising and coordinating project activities. Moreover, it involves working closely with municipalities, Local Economic Development entities and other local actors for the implementation of activities to address the barriers for the economic empowerment of women.

¹ World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report, (2010 and 2016)
² CRTDA, Women in the Lebanese Economy, 2012
³ Lebanese Economic Association, Women in the Labor Force, Current Legislative Framework and Proposed Recommendations, 2014

Under the direct supervision of the Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Specialist and the overall guidance of the LHSP Chief Technical Advisor (CTA):

Project Coordination

  • Develop and maintain project plans including the establishment of milestones;
  • Manage the implementation of the project, using results based management tools and taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources, including project risks management;
  • Work and coordinate closely with staff of the UNDP field offices for project implementation and provide guidance on results based management tools and performance indicators related to Women’s Economic Empowerment Project. Ensure synergies with other teams/portfolios, when feasible;
  • Provide technical oversight of recruitment of implementing partners/consultants and technical review of their performance and deliverables against set project success criteria;
  • Embed sustainability dimensions in project implementation including social, environmental and economic aspects.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Write quarterly reports and donor reports, focusing on results, outputs and outcomes;
  • Oversee field visits and review reports on monitoring visits;
  • Report on indicators related to the LCRP reporting;
  • Monitor and evaluate performance of implementing partners.

Stakeholder Coordination

  • Support the Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Specialist on the liaison with donors, stakeholders, implementing partners, UN agencies, INGO/NGO, local authorities and actors in relation to the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project;
  • Establish and maintain positive working relations with national and local partners including municipalities, union of municipalities, local economic development actors and relevant community stakeholders to ensure cooperation and successful project implementation;
  • Carry out regular meetings with internal and external project stakeholders to ensure the project meets relevant success criteria; manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities and progress.

Other

  • Support the Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Specialist in the strategic thinking and vision in relation to Women’s Economic Empowerment in Lebanon and acting as gender focal point for LHSP;
  • Review relevant documents including ToRs, concept notes, project documents and other as necessary to ensure mainstreaming of Women Economic Empowerment and gender considerations and advise on the related issue as requested
  • Participate in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to Women’s Economic Empowerment, as requested;
  • Provide support to resource mobilization strategies including development of project proposal to mobilize additional resources for advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in Lebanon;
  • Support Knowledge Management, identify and disseminate lessons learned and best practices in relation to Women’s Economic Empowerment;
  • Other activities as requested by Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Specialist.
  • Upholds organizational and ethical standards, including respect for diversity and gender equality;
  • Good knowledge of the country and its local customs including the impact of the Syrian crisis;
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills;
  • Ability to plan and prioritize own workload;
  • Ability to work under pressure;
  • Computer literate;
  • Ability to assume responsibility and to coordinate with others;
  • Effective oral and written communication skills;
  • Attention to detail and ability to handle tasks accurately;
  • Experience working in the UN System is desirable.

Education:

  • Bachelor or Graduate degree in business administration, economics, social siences or other related fields.

Experience:

  • Bachelor degree with 4 years or Graduate degree with 2 years of relevant and progressive work experience in project management, including design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
  • Experience liasing with national and local authorities, NGOs and local economic development entities.
  • Technical experience in advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment is a must.

Languages

  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic (French is a plus).

Travel:

  • The candidate should be based in Beirut and willing to go on regular field visits to the project sites across Lebanon.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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Contract Duration: 1 year (renewable)

This vacancy is archived.

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