Local Economic Development and Livelihood Specialist

Office/Unit/Project Description 

Lebanon continues to confront an unprecedented financial and economic crisis, exacerbated by a long history of violence, volatility, and social inequality. This crisis has deeply undermined the subsistence capacity of already vulnerable populations. The country remains home to the largest numbers of refugees per capita in the world, with approximately 1.5 million displaced Syrians, 31,400 Palestine refugees from Syria, 35,000 Lebanese returnees, and a pre-existing population of 174,422 Palestine refugees residing in 12 official refugee camps and 156 gatherings. Moreover, the geopolitical environment continues to deteriorate, which poses risks for new displacement waves. This multi-layered crisis has had devastating impacts on Lebanon’s social, economic, and environmental capital, and increasingly threatens the country's social cohesion and stability.

Communities hosting large numbers of displaced populations face compounded challenges due to inadequate institutional capacities, dwindling resources, and a lack of effective collective approaches to managing the crisis. These communities are grappling with the consequences of the Syrian displacement crisis, which has been further exacerbated since 2019 by a severe economic, fiscal, and governance meltdown. Additionally, the increasing pressures from climate change have intensified these vulnerabilities. This state-of-affairs weakens the ability of local communities to cope with the immediate impacts of the crisis, such as service breakdowns, rising poverty, and growing tensions between and within communities. These challenges, in turn, limit their capacity to pursue a sustainable development path, particularly as durable solutions to the displacement crisis remain elusive.

In response to these challenges, the Lebanon Host Community Support Project – Phase 2 (LHSP 2.0) builds upon the lessons learned from the original LHSP project, which has been implemented since 2014. LHSP 2.0 seeks to anchor stabilization activities within a more integrated local development framework. It focuses on working at the area-based level within clusters and unions, with a strong emphasis on strengthening municipal capacities to enhance the sustainability and impact of stabilization efforts.

At the local level, LHSP 2.0 aims to bolster the coping and sustainable development capacities of host communities. Its key objectives are to create a more enabling environment for mitigating and preventing tensions by:

1.Reducing competition over public services, livelihood, and economic opportunities: This is achieved by supporting the maintenance and expansion of service delivery and creating economic opportunities, especially in the context of the significant incapacitation of both public and private sectors.

2.Providing conflict-sensitive and inclusive dialogue and decision-making spaces: These spaces allow local communities to engage in peaceful discussions, identify common interests, and collaboratively chart a path towards a sustainable future.

The Local Development for a Sustainable Lebanon (LDSL) initiative further complements the objectives of LHSP 2.0 by enhancing local governance, capacity building, and economic resilience across Lebanon. This initiative focuses on the long-term recovery and stability of host communities, ensuring that development strategies are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the complex needs of both displaced and host populations. By fostering an environment where local governments and communities can manage development processes effectively, LDSL seeks to integrate economic, social, and environmental resilience at the community level.

Together, the LHSP 2.0 and LDSL projects are critical in addressing Lebanon's multi-dimensional vulnerabilities and ensuring the country’s capacity for sustainable, inclusive recovery. They aim to create a harmonious, integrated approach to local development that not only addresses immediate needs but also builds resilience for the future.

Scope of Work 

The incumbent will perform the following functions:

a) Lead the Design and Implementation of Area-Based Economic Development Strategies

• Lead the design and implementation of context-specific, area-based economic development strategies in focus zones, informed by local needs, vulnerabilities, and resources.
• Identify and prioritize economic recovery and resilience needs, with a focus on sustainable livelihoods for displaced populations and host communities.
• Ensure integration of local economic development with wider strategic planning processes.
• Plan, organize, facilitate and follow-up workshops and trainings related to area-based economic development, local development and planning. 

b) Facilitate Livelihoods Support for Vulnerable Populations

• Design and oversee initiatives to support vulnerable groups, including displaced populations, women, youth, and MSMEs, with access to sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• Coordinate with partners to implement tailored programs that address the immediate recovery needs and long-term economic integration, focusing on enhancing household income stability and food security.
• Develop mechanisms for the empowerment of women and youth through entrepreneurship, skills training, and access to finance.

c) Promote Local Economic Value Chains and Sustainable Enterprises

• Conduct assessments to identify viable local economic value chains, particularly in agriculture, MSMEs, and other critical sectors for economic recovery and development.
• Advise and support the development of sustainable, market-driven value chains that leverage local resources, skills, and infrastructure, with a focus on inclusive growth.
• Facilitate the establishment of local economic cooperatives, community-based businesses, and sustainable enterprises, providing technical assistance and capacity-building to increase their resilience.

d) Enhance Capacity of Local Stakeholders in Economic Governance and Development

• Develop and implement capacity-building programs for local authorities, municipalities, and unions on local economic development, sustainable fiscal management, and economic planning.
• Provide technical assistance to local governments/municipalities in integrating local economic development strategies with broader municipal and regional governance frameworks.
• Lead the design of training and knowledge-sharing platforms to support local actors in developing and executing effective economic policies.
• Engage stakeholders in discussions on addressing systemic vulnerabilities and building integrated, climate-resilient, and inclusive local economies.
• Ensure alignment between local economic strategies and broader national development plans, ensuring that projects are conflict-sensitive and designed with a “leave no one behind” approach.

e) Monitor and Evaluate Livelihood and Economic Development Initiatives

• Lead the development of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track the progress and impact of livelihood and local economic development projects.
• Ensure that M&E systems capture both quantitative and qualitative data on economic impact, social inclusion, and resilience building, and use this data to inform programme adjustments/changes.
• Provide regular reports on the status and impact of livelihood and economic development interventions, identifying challenges and recommending improvements.

f) Explore and advocate for Sustainable Financing Models for Local Development

• Explore and recommend innovative financing mechanisms for local economic development, including public-private partnerships, climate financing, and community-driven investment models.
• Support municipalities and local stakeholders in developing financial plans and mechanisms to sustain local economic development efforts beyond the project lifecycle.

g) Contribute to Knowledge Management and Policy Advocacy

• Draft and/or provide inputs to proposals, project documents, briefing notes and other documents, as required
• Support the development of policy briefs, reports, and other knowledge products related to local economic development, livelihood recovery, and resilience-building in Lebanon.
• Contribute to UNDP's advocacy efforts by sharing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from local development and economic recovery initiatives.
• Engage with national and international stakeholders to promote the adoption of policies that support sustainable and inclusive local economic development in Lebanon. 

• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Local Development Portfolio Manager / CTA LHSP, the Local Economic Development and Livelihood Specialist will undertake assigned functions.

Competencies

Core competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking 

 Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or

system, and to consider how altering one element

can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management Monitoring & Evaluation 

 Ability to systematically monitor results of

strategies, programmes, and activities with a view

to make sure that they are being implemented

effectively; Ability to provide managers and key

stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting

on the consistency or discrepancy between

planned activities and programme management

and results.

Ability to make independent judgment of the

management and results of strategies,

programmes and activities based on set criteria

and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and

concerns of client, current and upcoming.

Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and

evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies,

systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an

independent judgement based on set criteria and

benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming

needs and concerns

Business Management Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Digital   Data analysis Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making
Ethics UN policy knowledge - ethics Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity
Business Management Risk Management dentify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Studies or related fields is required; or,

• A first level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the  areas stated above, with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience  •Minimum 5 years (with a Master’s degree) or 7 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of progressive relevant experience in livelihood and local economic development in the context of recovery and resilience programming.
Required  skills 

• Experience in designing, managing cluster economic projects.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Experience in coaching, mentoring of staff and partners with international and/or local humanitarian and development agencies.
•  Previous experience in working with UN or an international organization.
• Experience in cash base programming, labor intensive and women economic empowerment.
• Experience in advocating for Sustainable Financing Models for Local Development

Required Language(s)  Proficiency in English and Arabic is required.
Professional Certificates N/A

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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