Area Project Officer- Early Recovery Livelihoods Project - All Areas

The Area Project Officer is responsible for managing and coordinating all area-based activities related to the Early Recovery Livelihoods (ERL) Project, including beneficiary identification, training, grant release, and supervision of the project team. The role involves coordination with multiple departments and community representatives to ensure effective project implementation and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the timely implementation of area-level project activities and supervise the project team.
• Maintain regular internal contacts with Recovery Programme, Area Office, RSSP/Social Services, TVET, Microfinance, Community Centres, Finance, M&E and other relevant departments.
• Support the functioning of area/camp-level selection and scoring committees ensuring complete and verified beneficiary files.
• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of project activities and project team management.
• Identify eligible beneficiaries in accordance with targeting criteria and disseminate project information to stakeholders.
• Supervise Business Development Officers, allocate caseloads, review workplans and ensure quality and timeliness of application screening, business assessments, field verification, business planning, mentoring and monitoring.
• Manage complaints and grievance system at camp level and finalize beneficiary lists.
• Support outreach, beneficiary identification, community feedback, complaints and grievance management.
• Support Selection and Scoring Committees by ensuring availability of case files and documentation.
• Organize training workshops for beneficiaries and coordinate logistics.
• Supervise and coordinate ERL project team including Business Development Officer, relief worker, TVET instructor and vocational trainers.
• Develop work plans and organize progress review meetings.
• Finalize list of beneficiaries based on training completion and business plan approval.
• Ensure development and implementation of individual beneficiary mentoring plans.
• Maintain close links with camp project committee and provide updates.
• Coordinate grant instalments to beneficiaries after MoU signing.
• Coordinate business mentoring visits and document observations and recommendations.
• Review progress against business plans and submit recommendations for follow-up actions or grant instalments.
• Ensure proper documentation and referral of complaints, appeals, risks, safeguarding issues and potential misuse of assistance.
• Prepare monthly project progress reports including achievements, beneficiary figures, committee decisions, challenges, risks and follow-up needs.
• Coordinate data collection, monitoring activities and reporting with M&E staff.
• Ensure project implementation is inclusive and integrates gender, disability, protection and safeguarding considerations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• University degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Project Management, livelihood, Microfinance or other related fields.
• At least five years of relevant experience in project management, livelihoods, microfinance, TVET and similar activities at community level.
• At least 2 years’ experience in staff supervision in development/humanitarian programmes in governmental, non-governmental organizations.
• English language proficiency at UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Arabic language proficiency at UN Level I in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• 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.
• Candidates must comply with UNRWA's zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with UN values including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
• Candidates must pass evaluation including assessment exercise and interview.
• Candidates must provide complete and accurate information in the application and undergo reference and background checks including verification of academic credentials and employment history.

Skills

• Project Management
• Livelihood Programming
• Microfinance Lending
• TVET Implementation
• Community Development
• Staff Supervision
• Development Programs
• Humanitarian Programming
• Beneficiary Identification
• Grant Management
• Team Coordination
• Project Reporting
• English Language Proficiency
• Language Proficiency in Arabic

Languages

English, Arabic