SME Assistant

SME Assistant

Admin التنمية والإنعاش الإقتصادي

International Rescue Committee

Syria Country Program

 

 

Job Description

Job Title: SME Assistant

Grade: 9

Department: ERD_ Livelihoods. 

Location: Al Raqaa / Livelihoods center.

 

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) team is implementing emergency relief and early recovery programs in Northeast Syria. These activities support short-term, basic need provision and longer-term development of marketable skills and productive assets. Within its livelihood portfolio, the IRC provides employment support services, including vocational training, financial literacy and transferable life skills classes, and apprenticeships with existing businesses to promote the development of marketable skills and on-the-job training. The IRC also supports the delivery of micro-grants to new and existing enterprises to continue and grow their economic activities, improve their business processes, and better manage the demands of the crisis. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) include retailers and service providers, formal and informal businesses, home-based businesses, and capital support for household-level production.

The SME assistant will do field and administrative tasks with a focus on business follow-up and trainees (apprentices) in the apprenticeship program.

Responsibilities:

  • Train beneficiaries in developing a business idea by filling in their Business Plan and Grant Application forms and providing them with appropriate advice and consultation until they submit their proposals to the evaluation committee.
  • Conduct field visits to businesses’ locations of applicants for business grant before getting the grants.
  • Follow up the implementation of businesses after been supported with grants and provide the training of financial management and life skills to beneficiaries.
  • Prepare and follow up on all the documents needed for the Business Startup Grants Program such as PRs, cash plans, payment sheets, payment reports, and contracts.
  • contribute to the process of following Business Startup Grants beneficiaries received business startup grants. This follow-up is to collect indicators related to the increase in monthly income, and knowledge. In the same way, supervised the process of following up with Apprenticeship beneficiaries who received Apprenticeship training to collect indicators related to the increase in monthly income, and knowledge.
  • Find employers in the local market who are ready to train applicants for apprenticeship program and identify needs and training program.
  • The daily follow-up of trainees (apprentices) in the Apprenticeship Program through an attendance schedule.
  • Follow-up beneficiaries of the Apprenticeship Program after the training period to determine the impact of the program in linking them to the market and follow up their own work.
  • Collect market information through market surveys and qualitative interviews.
  • Assist the SME officer in determining challenges, gaps and support needs of local businesses.
  • prepare and follow up on all the documents needed for the Apprenticeship Program such as PR of starting the program, PR of the training tools and materials needed for each cycle, cash plans, payment sheets, payment reports, memorandum of understanding, and apprenticeship enrollment forms.
  • participate in the process of distributing the cash for business start-up kits to all the nominated (eligible) beneficiaries from the Apprenticeship and Vocational training programs after a process of tests and evaluations.
  • Support administrative tasks, including following up on small procurements and ensuring attendance sheets are correctly filled out by apprentices and business owners.
  • Work with the SME officer to identify new areas of intervention or areas of growth in business implementation.
  • Other duties as required by the program.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

  • University degree, preferably in business administration, economics, or an academic degree in other fields alongside relevant experience in this field.
  • At least 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing a business or enterprise, and familiarity with the market and market actors.
  • Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.
  • Relevant experience with INGOs will be a plus.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

  • A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
  • Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training.
  • Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
  • Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
  • Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
  • Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
  • Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
  • Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

  • English literacy and fluency in Arabic is required.
  • Travel: 75% to field sites in ERD business locations, local markets in NES as well as workshops.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: SME Officer
Position directly supervises: Livelihoods outreach assistant and incentive workers.

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Livelihoods manager.
Key Internal Contacts: SME officer, Center Officer, training officer, training assistant, HR, Finance, supply chain, Access, and IT sectors.

Key External Contacts: HAO, market actors.

 

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

How To Apply:

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/46555?c=rescue

Deadline: 

12 November 2023