Lebanon: Deputy WASH and Shelter Coordinator

Aug 21, 2018 | Solidarites International
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Lebanon hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugee, mainly in its northern governorate (Akkar and Tripoli) and in the Bekaa Valley. SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) has launched its operations in Lebanon in March 2013 in order to address the immediate needs of both Syrian refugee and Lebanese host families also affected by the crisis.

Solidarités International’s mission in Lebanon has two operational bases (Tripoli and Zahle) and a coordination office in Beirut.

The expatriate team consists of 10 staff members, while the national team represents about 140 staff members.

The mission’s overall budget reached 17MUSD in 2017 and about 10MUSD in 2018. Tripoli base counts for 70% of this amount and Zahle base for 30%.

Key areas of intervention for the mission are the following:

  • Emergency WaSH service provision in informal settlements (UNICEF funding)
  • Emergency multi-sectoral response & Protection/Shelter activities (ECHO funding)
  • WaSH infrastructure development (EuropeAid)
  • Multi-scale urban approach (OCHA, UN-HABITAT)
  • Mapping of informal settlements (MEDAIR / UNHCR)
  • Third Party Monitoring & Evaluation of multi-purpose cash program (DFID/ECHO/Norway/Germany through a consortium)

ABOUT THE JOB...

Under the global direction of the WaSH & Shelter Coordinator, the Deputy will be in charge of supporting the program quality and technical coordination for WaSH and Shelter activities.

He/She will take part in the follow-up of programs and the support to Program Managers for WaSH and Shelter activities and technical issues encountered.

He/She will also take part in supporting the reporting and project design.

In addition, the Deputy WASH and Shelter Coordinator will follow-up different pilot projects, supporting Program Managers in their set up. He/She will be involved in the assessment, analysis, design, implementation and monitoring steps.

Under the supervision of the WaSH and Shelter Coordinator, he/she will support the institutional knowledge building on the intervention methods and techniques, and on the experiences acquired by Solidarités International regarding WaSH and Shelter activities.

Finally and if/when needed, he/she will have to replace the WaSH and Shelter Coordinator to represent SI at all technical and sectorial meetings or working groups related to WaSH and Shelter interventions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Strategic orientation
  • Relevance, technical support and program quality
  • Institutional knowledge building
  • Reporting, proposals and representation

Challenges foreseen:

The implementation of current programs in SI Lebanon are taking different approaches which requires flexibility and adaptation to different settings:

  • WaSH intervention in informal settlements among hundreds of sites
  • WaSH, Shelter and CASH Emergency response to shocks within 2 governorates
  • Neighborhood approach in one area of Tripoli
  • Water supply network construction for 3 villages (about 3000 people)

As WaSH and Shelter activities are divided between hundreds of informal settlements, the information management and data management is crucial to ensure follow up and monitoring of the implemented programs. The Deputy WaSH and Shelter Coordinator will have to understand quickly all assessment and monitoring tools in order support PMs and the WaSH & Shelter Coordinator with the interpretation and analysis of data for operational and strategic purposes.

The funds reduction perspective in WaSH and Shelter sector implies a review of SI strategy in order to continue to support vulnerable population living in Lebanon.

Within a WaSH strategy focusing more on sustainability and cost efficiency of facilities installed, SI is facing technical challenges which require sufficient technical knowledge and proactivity in order to analyze, propose and test solutions that could be later implemented at a larger scale.

The WaSH & Shelter Deputy Coordinator will have to work in very close collaboration with the Coordinator; candidates should thus show great flexibility and communication skills. Division of labor is anticipated to take place by “file” (e.g. research of new solution for water filtration; harmonization of program tools with Project Managers in different field offices, etc.)

YOUR PROFILE

Education:

  • Advance university degree (BA) in engineering, water and sanitation, or environmental health. Degrees in social sciences but with technical experience in WaSH & Shelter sectors are also accepted.

Experience:

  • Minimum 2 years with INGO specialized in Humanitarian assistance
  • Previous experience in WaSH/Shelter program management
  • Experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts, preferably with experience in supporting emergency response
  • Previous experience with SI preferable
  • Previous experience in out of camp settings an asset
  • Knowledge of Middle East an asset

Technical skills and knowledge:

  • Technical skills related to WASH: Water supply and treatment / Sanitation OR Shelter
  • Strong management and training/capacity-building skills
  • Display initiative with solid organizational and communication skills
  • Very comfortable with standard office software

Soft skills and spirit:

  • Autonomy and capacity of initiative
  • Diplomacy and coordination skills;
  • Flexible
  • Ability to work under pressure, with peaks of heavy workloads;

Languages:

  • Fully fluent English: excellent speaking, reading and writing skills
  • Arabic and French an asset

Other:

  • Commitment to the fundamental principles of SI’s charter and ethics

LIVING CONDITIONS

In Beirut, the guesthouses and the office are located in the same block, in new buildings in Sodeco neighbourhood, close by the French Embassy. The guesthouses total 9 bedrooms used by the coordination team based in Beirut and visitors from bases. A hotel is located nearby as well if needed. The buildings have a generator and Wi-Fi is available at SI premises.

Beirut is a very modern city, where you can find all kind of restaurants, shops, international libraries, bars, night clubs, cinemas, etc. Lebanon offers multiple occasions for moving around in the weekends.

Security:

The political and security situation in Lebanon is complex and volatile. Reflective of divisions within Lebanese society, the situation of Syrian refugees is becoming increasingly precarious. There is currently no curfew in place on the Lebanon mission and international staff can move around without too many restrictions even though Akkar and Beqaa valley are areas with restriction of movements. The security measures in place could be upgraded depending on the context evolution.

SI WILL OFFER YOU ...

A salaried post: according to experience from 2420 euros gross per month, (2200 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly per diem of 750 USD.

Vacation: during the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/