Area Project Officer (Early Recovery Livelihood Project)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established by the United Nations 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 offering a range of services including education, healthcare, relief and social services, camp infrastructure improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual donations. The agency is dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of one of the world's most vulnerable communities, and it encourages individuals who are passionate about humanitarian work to apply for positions within the organization.

Job Overview:
The Area Project Officer is tasked with managing and coordinating all activities related to the Early Recovery Livelihood (ERL) Project. This includes the effective identification of beneficiaries, overseeing training programs, and the disbursement of grants to beneficiaries. The officer will report directly to the Chief Area Office and will supervise a team of 2-3 staff members, including a Business Development Officer, Relief Workers, a TVET instructor, and vocational trainers. The role requires travel within the area to fulfill job responsibilities. The Area Project Officer is expected to ensure that project activities are implemented in a timely manner and that the project team is effectively supervised. This position plays a crucial role in maintaining regular communication with various internal departments and external stakeholders, including beneficiaries and community representatives, to ensure the smooth operation of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Area Project Officer include:

• Coordinating the daily implementation of project activities and managing the project team.
• Collaborating with the project team to identify eligible beneficiaries (small businesses) based on established targeting criteria and disseminating project information to stakeholders, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Directly supervising the Business Development Officers, allocating their caseloads, reviewing work plans, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of application screenings, business assessments, field verifications, business planning, mentoring, and post-support monitoring.
• Managing the complaints and grievance system at the camp level and finalizing the beneficiary list after thorough reviews.
• Supporting outreach efforts, beneficiary identification, community feedback, and grievance management in collaboration with the area/camp-level committee.
• Ensuring that complete case files, verification records, business assessments, and supporting documentation are available for review by the Selection and Scoring Committees.
• Assisting the Business Development Officer in organizing training workshops for beneficiaries and coordinating logistics for these events.
• Supervising and coordinating the ERL project team, including Business Development Officers, relief workers, TVET instructors, and vocational trainers.
• Developing work plans for the team and organizing regular progress review meetings. 1
• Finalizing the list of beneficiaries based on successful training completion and approved business development plans. 1
• Developing individual mentoring plans for beneficiaries and ensuring their implementation with the support of the project team. 1
• Maintaining close communication with the camp project committee and providing regular updates. 1
• Coordinating with the project team to ensure beneficiaries receive grant installments after signing the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). 1
• Organizing business mentoring visits to beneficiaries and documenting observations, milestones, and recommendations. 1
• Reviewing progress against approved business plans and submitting recommendations for follow-up actions or subsequent grant installments. 1
• Documenting and referring complaints, risks, duplication concerns, safeguarding issues, and potential misuse of assistance through established processes. 1
• Preparing monthly project progress reports detailing achievements, beneficiary figures, committee decisions, implementation challenges, risks, and required follow-up actions. 1
• Collaborating with M&E staff for data collection, monitoring activities, and required reporting. 1
• Ensuring that project implementation is inclusive and accessible, integrating gender, disability, protection, and safeguarding considerations throughout project activities. 2
• Performing any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree from an accredited institution in fields such as Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Project Management, Livelihood, Microfinance, or other related disciplines. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a commitment to the UN's core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The position requires strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, and a drive for results. Candidates should also have a thorough understanding of project management principles and practices, particularly in the context of livelihoods and community development.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree from an accredited institution in relevant fields such as Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Project Management, Livelihood, Microfinance, or other related areas. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of project management and the socio-economic challenges faced by the target population.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least five years of relevant experience in project management, livelihoods, microfinance, TVET, and similar activities at the community level. This experience should include a minimum of two years in staff supervision within development or humanitarian programs, preferably in governmental or non-governmental organizations. The role requires a proven track record of successfully managing projects and leading teams in challenging environments.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English and Arabic is required, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Candidates should demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages, as per the UN Language Framework. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory for this role.

Additional Notes:
This position is a daily paid assignment for a duration of up to three months, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability, satisfactory performance, and ongoing need. The daily rate for this position is 38.69 USD, and the salary may be subject to a reduced work schedule. Additional benefits include one day of annual leave and one day of sick leave for each completed month of service. The vacancy is open to both internal and external candidates, but only those residing in Syria and within commuting distance of the duty station, with authorization to work in Syria at the time of application, are eligible to apply. The Agency will not facilitate the issuance of work permits in Syria, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates from underrepresented genders to support the Agency's commitment to gender parity. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from this selection exercise, allowing successful candidates to be considered for similar positions in the future. All applications must be submitted through UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, and late applications will not be accepted. Candidates are advised to provide complete and accurate information in their applications, as misrepresentation can lead to disqualification. UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct and conducts thorough background checks on all recommended candidates.