Enterprise Support Officer (TVET)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established by the UN General Assembly in 194

• Its mission is to provide assistance and protection to approximately 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. UNRWA aims to help these refugees achieve their full potential in human development while awaiting a just resolution to their situation. The agency operates the largest UN operation in the Middle East, employing over 30,000 staff members and relying almost entirely on voluntary contributions for funding. UNRWA offers a range of services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services, camp infrastructure improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. The organization is dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, and it encourages qualified candidates to apply for positions that contribute to this mission.

Job Overview:
The Enterprise Support Officer (TVET) will play a crucial role in developing and implementing business entrepreneurship support activities aligned with project objectives and work plans. This position requires the incumbent to create and update entrepreneurship training materials and curricula that reflect the needs of the labor market and the profiles and capacities of beneficiaries. The officer will be responsible for identifying, mobilizing, screening, and registering eligible beneficiaries according to established project criteria. Conducting market assessments and identifying viable income-generating opportunities will be essential functions of this role. The officer will also deliver comprehensive entrepreneurship training covering various aspects such as supplier linkages, pricing strategies, marketing, financial literacy, and customer relations to enhance business viability and growth. Additionally, the officer will provide coaching and mentoring to entrepreneurs, promote innovative initiatives focusing on sustainability and digitalization, and establish partnerships with stakeholders to improve access to financing options for entrepreneurs. Regular field visits and follow-ups with beneficiaries will be necessary to monitor business establishment and operational progress, while also collecting and analyzing project data for reporting and evaluation purposes. The officer will be expected to integrate principles of gender equality, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability into all business development interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement business entrepreneurship support activities in accordance with project objectives and work plans.
• Create and update entrepreneurship training materials and curricula based on labor market needs and beneficiaries' profiles.
• Identify, mobilize, screen, and register eligible beneficiaries according to approved project criteria.
• Conduct market assessments and business opportunity assessments to identify viable income-generating opportunities and market gaps.
• Deliver entrepreneurship training covering supplier linkages, costing and pricing, marketing strategies, financial literacy, and customer relations.
• Provide individual and group coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to entrepreneurs on business development and enterprise management.
• Promote and support innovative entrepreneurial initiatives, focusing on digitalization and sustainable business models.
• Establish and facilitate partnerships with stakeholders, including government institutions and financial organizations, to enhance access to financing for entrepreneurs.
• Manage the provision of business toolkits to eligible entrepreneurs, ensuring proper documentation and follow-up. 1
• Organize and coordinate entrepreneurship events, business forums, and networking activities. 1
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor business establishment and operational progress. 1
• Provide feedback and recommend support measures or corrective actions as needed. 1
• Collect, analyze, and maintain project data for monitoring and evaluation purposes. 1
• Promote the integration of gender equality, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability in business development interventions. 1
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, Finance, Entrepreneurship, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in business development, entrepreneurship support, or related fields. Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering entrepreneurship training programs is required, along with experience in coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs. Knowledge of the Syrian business environment and local labor market is desirable. Candidates should also have experience in providing advisory services to start-ups and emerging entrepreneurs.

Educational Background:
A university degree from an accredited educational institution in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, Finance, or Entrepreneurship is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively support entrepreneurship and business development initiatives.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as business development, entrepreneurship support, feasibility studies, and community-based development projects. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in designing and delivering entrepreneurship training programs and supporting small businesses. Experience as a trainer or facilitator, particularly in adapting training content to meet the needs of beneficiaries, is essential. Experience in providing coaching and mentoring to entrepreneurs is also required, with additional experience in Training of Trainers (ToT) considered an asset.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English and Arabic is required. Candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages according to the UN Language Framework. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is a daily paid assignment for up to three months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. The daily rate for this position is 35.97 USD, and the salary may be subject to a reduced work schedule. Candidates must reside in Syria and be within commuting distance of the duty station, with authorization to work in Syria at the time of application. The Agency will not facilitate the issuance of work permits, and candidates without valid work permits may have their appointments rescinded. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates from underrepresented genders to promote gender parity. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from this selection process for future vacancies. All applications must be submitted through UNRWA's online recruitment system, and providing incorrect information may lead to disqualification. UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and conducts thorough background checks on candidates.