LHIF Access and Operations Manager - Beirut

Job Description

The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum (LHIF) is an informal, independent coordinating body comprised of 65 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) that are working to address the needs of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities throughout Lebanon. LHIF was formed in October 2012.

The purpose of LHIF is to facilitate our members' work by efficiently and effectively addressing key issues of common interest. LHIF facilitates coordination among members by identifying strategic issues of concern, advocating for common positions with a unified and consistent voice, engaging and representing the forum with external stakeholders and sharing information. LHIF also facilitates the representation of INGOs in response leadership bodies and works to enhance the engagement of NGOs in response planning and coordination mechanisms at both Beirut and regional levels.

LHIF continues to be regularly engaged in ensuring continued humanitarian programme delivery and keeping members informed on rapid shifts in the enabling environment for aid at regional levels. The worsening social and economic conditions in Lebanon are impacting all levels of society and presenting varying challenges for the INGO community as they address the increasing needs of beneficiaries throughout Lebanon. Maintaining humanitarian space is difficult due to a number of different factors including complex regulatory requirements and a rapid deterioration of the economy more broadly.

LHIF is represented by an elected Steering Committee and has been supported by a full-time Secretariat since October 2013. The Access and Operations Manager will be part of the LHIF secretariat, managed by its Country Coordinator and hosted/contracted by IRC.

The Access and Operations Manager will be responsible for coordinating collective positioning on access and operational issues for LHIF, reflecting member-identified priority issues. The Manager will ensure s/he is engaged and connected to Members to understand issues arising, identify trends, analyze risks, and support common positioning where needed to facilitate improved humanitarian access and operations in Lebanon. The position will also coordinate with other NGO networks; engage effectively in the various fora available to LHIF to effect policy change or operational support; support development of LHIF common positions; and deliver regular reports, analysis, and briefings. The Manager will also be responsible for supporting coordination of the LHIF Regional Working Groups, will be actively engaged with and co-leading the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) Access Working Group (AWG), and will support the Country Coordinator in the implementation of advocacy activities related to access and INGOs operations through the LHIF Advocacy Working Group and other relevant Working Groups.

Major Responsibilities:

Generic Responsibilities:

- Support common understanding and positioning on operational context changes that impact LHIF members’ ability to access people in need of assistance and to deliver programs efficiently and safely and in alignment with humanitarian principles - Remain proactively engaged in access discussions, understanding context, identifying trends, and, where necessary, actively participating in problem resolution - Support coordination of the Regional LHIF meetings and, where necessary, specific access related meetings - Actively engage and co-lead the HCT Access Working Group - Ensure that key learnings are extracted from access activities and shared with members - Comply with and adhere to related IRC and LHIF policies, guidance, and procedures

Specific Responsibilities:

Monitoring and Analysis

- Constantly monitor available sources to collect and compile information including incidents and trends pertinent to humanitarian access and operations - Collate relevant member information/input at local level by co-convening regional LHIF meetings and engaging in individual member outreach - Analyze operational trends, share relevant information, and provide context updates and raise awareness about risks related to humanitarian access, including through submitting regular context updates and rapid updates to LHIF SC, CD group, and other relevant stakeholders - Follow up directly with LHIF members to ensure proper analysis and reporting of incidents impacting negatively on NGO operations and delivery

Humanitarian access and networking

- Identify barriers to access and support LHIF members in developing mitigation strategies - Coordinate humanitarian negotiations and access plans with LHIF members - Act as a focal point for networking and representation on behalf of LHIF and its members with relevant stakeholders including relevant ministries and key administrations as well as non-governmental stakeholders in conjunction with LHIF Regional Focal Points – particularly in issues related to access negotiation - Strategically network with interlocutors, in a fully principled and transparent manner - Coordinate and otherwise support trainings related to access negotiations and humanitarian principles for LHIF and its members

Coordination

- Ensure that linkages between other access initiatives are established and maintained, particularly as co-lead to the HCT Access Working Group (AWG), LHIF national and regional meetings as well as the LHIF Advocacy Working Group - Support the implementation of advocacy activities related to access and INGO operations - Work closely with UN counterparts, including OCHA access colleagues and regional UN staff responsible for access negotiations, to coordinate collective positions on access constraints - Support Country Coordinator on addressing operational issues that are raised through HR, finance, and other working groups, as needed

Project Management

- Contribute to donor reporting and proposal development for LHIF as needed and requested

Qualifications

Work Experience:

- Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in access coordination, operations/program delivery, context analysis, or security, particularly in complex or access- constrained contexts - First-hand experience of access negotiations with various local authorities, government ministries, and other key stakeholders, including developing access strategies and creating understanding among staff on access and humanitarian principles - Experience in drafting and encouraging implementation of policy/strategic guidance, and developing practical tools and resources

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- Bachelor degree in humanitarian assistance, conflict, public policy/administration, development, political science, foreign policy, or any other related field - Ability to gain a precise understanding of the various local, regional, country, and international policies, operational positions, and interactions, providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding contextual and political situations when they occur. - Excellent organizational, problem-solving and negotiation skills - Proven communication, interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to communicate at all levels, establish information sharing networks, and coordinate with local and national authorities, international organizations, local NGOs, and other stakeholders - Coaching and capacity building skills - Ability to travel to field operations - Fluent in English, both written and spoken - Fluent in Arabic - Knowledge in French is a plus - Previous experience working with national and/or international NGOs

Working Environment:

- Standard office working environment - Travel to all regions of Lebanon on regular basis