Business Development Officer - Early Recover Livelihood Project - Daily Paid Opportunity - All Areas - Grade 14, F

The Business Development Officer supports outreach, registration, screening, and verification of applicants for small business grants and livelihood support under the Early Recovery Livelihood Project. The role involves field visits, business feasibility assessments, coaching beneficiaries, and coordinating with multiple programme teams to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of livelihood activities.

Responsibilities

• Supports outreach, registration and intake of applicants for small business grants, toolkits and training-linked livelihood support.
• Screens Applications against approved eligibility, vulnerability and project criteria.
• Reviews proposed and existing business activities to assess feasibility, market demand, cost realism and basic operational risks and business viability.
• Conducts basic market assessments to identify value livelihood opportunities, value chain gaps and emerging market trends relevant to targeted communities.
• Supports applicants to develop simple business plans, including required inputs, budget, expected sales, implementation milestones, risks and mitigation measures.
• Prepares clear verification notes, case summaries ad supporting documents for review by the relevant committees.
• Conducts field verification, including home visits, business site visits, documentation review and cross-checking of beneficiary information.
• Completes approved verification forms, score sheets and supporting documentation based on evidence and proper records.
• Supports the Selection Committee and Scoring Committee by providing complete case files, business assessment findings, verification records and clarification where required.
• Ensures that applicants who are not selected are informed through the approved communication channels and that appeals or complaints are referred through the appropriate mechanism.
• Supports selected beneficiaries after grant or toolkit approval to verify use of assistance, business progress and achievement of agreed milestones.
• Provides basic coaching to beneficiaries on costing, pricing, recordkeeping, stock management, customer relations and simple cash-flow planning.
• Supports referrals to TVET, Microfinance, RSSP, Social Services, Community Centres and other relevant services, where needed.
• Coordinates with TVET and Community Centres to confirm training relevance, beneficiary attendance, completion and linkage to livelihood opportunities.
• Coordinates with Microfinance colleagues where beneficiaries may require financial literacy, business advice or linkage to suitable financial services.
• Tracks beneficiary progress through regular field visits, phone follow-up, post-support monitoring and documentation of business status.
• Identifies and report risks, including unrealistic business plans, inflated costs, duplication of assistance, misuse of support, conflict of interest, safeguarding concerns and protection-related issues.
• Maintains accurate beneficiary files, including application forms, verification notes, business plans, scoring records, committee decisions, coaching notes and monitoring updates.
• Ensures that gender equality, disability inclusion, age sensitivity and protection principles are considered throughout outreach, assessment, selection, referrals, coaching and follow-up.
• Maintains confidentiality of beneficiary data, complaints, appeals and case documentation in line with UNRWA data protection and accountability requirements.
• Submits regular progress updates to the supervisor, including completed cases, field challenges, complaints, risks and recommended follow-up actions.
• Performs other related duties as required by the supervisor within the scope of the Early Recovery.

Requirements

• A University degree from an accredited educational institution in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Social Science, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Entrepreneurship, Project management or related subjects.
• At least four years of relevant experience in livelihoods, small business development, entrepreneurship support, microfinance, community-based programming, field verification, grants support, vocational training linkage or early recovery programming is required.
• Experience working with vulnerable communities, refugees, Palestine refugees or conflict-affected populations is an asset is required.
• Strong field coordination and community engagement skills.
• Ability to assess small business feasibility and market relevance.
• Good understanding of vulnerability, protection, gender and inclusion considerations.
• Strong documentation, verification and reporting skills.
• Ability to manage confidential beneficiary information.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple programme and field teams.
• Integrity, impartiality and accountability in beneficiary selection and follow-up.
• Practical understanding of livelihoods, small grants, TVET, microfinance or early recovery programming.
• Desirable Qualification: Experience in business assessment, beneficiary verification, market assessment, coaching, monitoring or cash/grant-based assistance.

Skills

• Livelihood Programming
• Small Business Development
• Entrepreneurship Support
• Microfinance Lending
• Community-Based Programs
• Field Verification
• Grants Support
• Vocational Training Linkage
• Early Recovery Programming
• Field Coordination
• Community Engagement
• Business Feasibility Assessment
• Market Assessments
• Vulnerability and Protection
• Gender Inclusion
• Documentation and Reporting
• Confidential Information Management
• Beneficiary data verification
• Coaching
• Monitoring
• Cash and Grant-Based Assistance

Languages

English, Arabic