Community Engagement & Peer Mentoring Officer (Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, through the URL link provided)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.

• Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. We do this through:
• Addressing the humanitarian and protection needs resulting from crisis situations for the most vulnerable communities
• Enabling local communities, civil society and government to better prevent and respond to conflict, address needs and deliver sustainable development solutions
• Promoting economic growth and catalysing economic opportunities for vulnerable, under-employed groups in Lebanon

The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 150 staff working across five offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.

Program Summary

The “Fostering Resilience by Strengthening Abilities” FORSA II program is a 6.5 mio Euros integrated three-and-a-half-year (anticipated December 2019 - May 2023) program focusing on the nexus between education and employment. The program will target youth between the ages of 16-34 from Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian families, with a specific focus on women and girls in the target areas.  The overall objective is that women and youth are supported to access education and employment in targeted areas in the Bekaa and South.

The primary objectives of the program are that:

1. Youth from all targeted communities have improved market-driven skills as a result of better quality training systems;
2. Job placement systems provide equitable and sustainable access to jobs for targeted populations;
3. Male and female youth have improved pathways to self-employment.

General Position Summary

The Peer Mentoring and Community Engagement Officer will work closely with the program team to build strong and transparent linkages between the program and the targeted community and in particular to promote women’s engagement in program activities. S/he will help establish a strong peer mentoring system that can continue working autonomously beyond the duration of the intervention.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Peer Mentoring

• Work with the program team to develop a peer mentoring system providing advice, guidance and emotional support to program participants.
• Conduct outreach, recruitment and screening for mentors and mentees;
• Conduct induction and training for mentors and mentees;
• Facilitate peer mentor matches and regularly review progress with mentors and mentees;
• Follow up on attendance of mentors and mentees to the sessions.
• Identify best ways to engage with the mentors and mentees, including on social media, whatsapp, etc.
• Promote the system both internally and externally and build relevant and appropriate relationships to ensure the peer mentoring system success;
• Adapt as needed the Mercy Corps Peer Mentoring curriculum;
• Write SoPs for mentoring and ensure their dissemination as needed;
• Engage in risk assessment of the mentors and those being supported to ensure mentor and mentee safety;
• Develop referral pathways to secure referrals of mentees to other services;
• Organize networking events and other events for the peer mentoring system participants;
• Identify women role-models and leaders to speak during peer mentoring events;
• Follow-up on all financial and administrative aspects of peer mentoring activities;

Community Engagement

• In close collaboration with the program team develop community engagement initiatives to ensure that outreach sessions are inclusive and well-targeted;
• In collaboration with the Training team develop Males Engagement events in targeted communities to promote a positive perception of women's economic role and facilitate their participation to training;
• Support the Job platforms Snr Field Coordinator to develop outreach mechanisms and events for the Job platforms, including within TVETs institutes, at graduation events, etc.

• Work with partners and program team to gather success stories and anecdotal evidence of program impact to share for outreach and with donors.
• Assist the team to build systems that promote beneficiary accountability by ensuring that communities participate in initial assessments and program design;
• Assist the MEL team with the development of appropriate monitoring, tracking and reporting systems, tools and templates for the peer mentoring system and community engagement events;
• Assist in filing and record keeping of project activities;
• Coordinate with program teams to ensure that communities are informed about our programs and what we do, are aware of their entitlements, are comfortable to give feedback and that feedback is used to improve the quality of our programs

• Ensure that Mercy Corps’ Community Feedback and Accountability Mechanism is clearly communicated to project beneficiaries, and that the hotline numbers are visible to end beneficiaries throughout the program.

Other

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy;

• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
• Other assigned tasks, as necessary.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Field Coordinator

Works Directly With: FORSA II Program team, other Mercy Corps Departments

Skills and Experience

• • BA/S or equivalent, preferable in social sciences, psychology, gender studies, sociology or related fields;

• • 3-4 years community engagement and/or other relevant experience;
  • Fluent in both spoken and written Arabic with strong knowledge of English;
  • Previous experience working with NGOs or local associations;
  • Good reporting skills;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and active listening skills;
  • Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team.
  • Respect for differences and ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse socioeconomic, national and religious backgrounds
  • Maturity in dealing with confidential and personal information.

Success Factors

The successful Community Engagement and Peer Mentoring officer will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  S/he will take a deep personal interest in community engagement.  S/he will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality.  S/he will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures. S/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values.