Diaspora Engagement Specialist (Lebanon)

XL Associates, Inc. (XLA) has provided institutional support services to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for nearly 25 years. XLA is currently seeking a Diaspora Engagement Specialist to support the USAID Mission for Lebanon. The purpose of this role is to assist USAID/Lebanon in enhancing diaspora engagement by developing and implementing an action plan to improve and/or establish diaspora-related relationships between stakeholders, including the US Government, religious and community groups, diaspora communities, non-profits, corporations and businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, donors and others. The Diaspora Engagement Specialist guides and informs stakeholders about the most effective ways to collaborate to support development efforts. The Diaspora Engagement Specialist will lead in coordinating USAID/Lebanon’s diaspora engagement and outreach efforts.

The objective for the Diaspora Engagement Specialist is to assist USAID/Lebanon in enhancing diaspora engagement by developing and implementing an action plan to improve and/or establish diaspora-related relationships between stakeholders, including the US Government, religious and community groups, diaspora communities, non-profits, corporations and businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, donors and others. The Diaspora Engagement Specialist guides and informs stakeholders about the most effective ways to collaborate to support development efforts. The Diaspora Engagement Specialist will lead in coordinating USAID/Lebanon’s diaspora engagement and outreach efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Diaspora Engagement Specialist will assist USAID/Lebanon, partners, local organizations, municipalities and the diaspora with connecting through innovative approaches, tools and communication channels. Technical assistance includes support to identify the needs, prioritize and start improving and/or introducing opportunities relevant to diaspora.

The Diaspora Specialist duties and responsibilities will include the following:

Perform review of all documents relevant for the position;

• Prepare an activity plan, encompassing actions and timelines for the entire assignment;
• Support engagement with USAID staff and the public on matters pertaining to diaspora engagement;
• Conduct interviews and consultations of relevant stakeholders;
• Summarize findings and prepare general overview of diaspora engagement opportunities/recommendations/set of identified priority interventions for coordination efforts and diaspora activities;
• Perform final consultation and obtain approval for the implementation of proposed diaspora engagement approach;
• Implement diaspora engagement approach, including:
  • Support liaising with volunteers, diaspora organizations, and others to become a conduit of information on diaspora engagement and donation management.
  • Assist in the development and delivery around key messages engaging the diaspora community.
  • Collaborate with the Communications team on social media content, including the sharing of meeting information and photographs.
  • Assist in devising creative and effective presentation of new information within USAID’s websites, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • Assist in the planning and execution of events about diaspora, using networks to secure speakers and attendees.
  • Using open source and direct contacts, conduct research and collect data related to diaspora and their issues.
  • Identify opportunities for successful diaspora engagement projects, within the scope of USAID/Lebanon programs and external to USAID.
  • Provide practical interactive training will be delivered to representatives of USAID/Lebanon, partners, local organizations, municipalities and the diaspora.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, human rights, economics, public health, public policy or a related field) plus eight (8) or more years of work experience with the USG, Private Voluntary Organization (PVO), Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Public International Organization (PIO) or UN Agency, with direct experience working in development or a related field, including five (5) years working directly on diaspora issues.

• OR

• Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, human rights, economics, public health, public policy or a related field) plus six (6) years of work experience with the USG, PVO, NGO, PIO or UN Agency, with direct experience working in development or a related field, including five (5) years working directly on diaspora issues.
• Language: Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English is required.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives.

People Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
• Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

• Communicates sensitively and effectively across all constituencies;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously;
• Results-Orientation;
• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

• Technical writing skills, ability to formulate written information clearly and persuasively;
• Strong communication skills;
• Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Strong analytical skills;
• Knowledge in strategic planning and methodology development;
• Demonstrates substantive knowledge on security issues and activities with an emphasis on local communities;
• Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently;
• Initiative and sound judgment.