Environment and Sustainable Development Unit
Terms of Reference
Field Volunteers with Agro-Food Background
Addressing immediate socio-economic impacts of COVID-19:
Subsistence support for Host and Refugee Populations in Lebanon
The Environment & Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) is an
inter-disciplinary research and development center specialized in
rural community development, local food systems and sustainable
agriculture hosted at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
(FAFS) of the American University of Beirut (AUB). For more than 20
years, ESDU has been promoting through large community development
projects sustainable rural livelihoods all over Lebanon. The Unit
focuses on participatory development and capacity building through
knowledge management and sharing, appropriate technologies, and
impact analysis with particular attention to smallholder farmers,
women and youth in the rural areas.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak and the current economic crisis
and based on the market needs, ESDU in partnership with ACTED is
currently implementing a COVID-19 response project aiming at
providing livelihood assets support as well as technical support,
market linkages and wage subsidies to MSMEs, small-holder farmers
and agro-food processing cooperatives. The project aims at
supporting entities (agro-food processing coops/MSMEs and farmers)
to expand production and at generating income while engaging
vulnerable Syrian and Lebanese workers in cash for work (CFW) and
cash for training (CFT) activities. The project will be implemented
in the areas of South and Bekaa for a 6 months period.
ESDU is thus seeking to recruit volunteers coming from
agriculture, agro-food or related background to support in the
outreach and to follow-up on on-site activities. He/She will be
directly coordinating with the outreach officers of the respective
regions and will support in capacity building of farmers/ agro-food
processing cooperatives and development of agricultural land
management or agro-food processing cooperative management
plans.
All agricultural volunteers will be provided with specialized
training from ESDU and ACTED including trainings on building soil
health and microbial activity, water management on farms,
sustainable agriculture, food processing and safety trainings
(particularly related to COVID-19).
All volunteers will be provided with certificates upon
successful completion of the trainings.
Scope of Work
The student/volunteer will be responsible of the following
activities:
· Assist outreach officers in the respective regions in
conducting outreach and collecting required data from entities
(agro-food processing coops/farmers) and workers
· Attend the training sessions (at least 5-10 days) and assist
outreach officers in managing training logistics
· Follow-up on farmers and agro-food processing coops to ensure
the proper implementation of the acquired skills (technical and
protective) during the implementation phase
· Follow-up with agro-food processing coops on the proper
implementation of food safety measures; and/or with farmers on the
proper implementation of sustainable agricultural practices
· Conduct at least 4 visits to the farms or agro-food processing
cooperatives and support in the development of implementation plans
(land management and agro-food processing coop management plans)
based on a template provided by ESDU/ACTED and provide their
technical input.
· Follow-up on the proper implementation of COVID-19 protective
guidelines
· Assist outreach officers in tracking beneficiaries during
training sessions and throughout the intensive labor work phase
All volunteers will be provided with safety and health trainings
in relation to COVID-19 impacts, and are expected to comply with
safety conditions.
Essential Minimum Qualifications:
· Fresh Graduate or student in agriculture, agro-food
processing, agri-business, environmental sciences or relevant
fields.
· Basic knowledge in food safety and/or sustainable agriculture
practices
· Good communication skills
· Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English languages
· Some knowledge of GIS software advantageous. Can also use
other smartphone mapping apps to develop land plans.
· Some knowledge of GIS software advantageous. Can also use
other smartphone mapping apps to develop land plans.
· Good reporting skills
Period
· From August 2020 till December 2020
Location
Volunteers must be based in, or willing to conduct site visits
in the following locations:
· Bekaa: Rachaya, West and Central Bekaa districts (including
Rashaya, Kfarmechki, Kamed EL laouz, Khiara, Machghara, Saghbine,
kherbit Kanafar, sohmor, Kab Elias, Soultan Yaacoub, Anjar, Ferzoul
municipalities);
· South: Bent Jbeil, Nabatiyeh, Sour, Hasbaya and Saida
districts (including Ain Ebel, Debel, Hariss, Yanouh, Kfar dounine,
Arab Salim, Abbasye, Bourj Rahal, Jannata, Qana, Hasbaya, Sarafand
municipalities).
How to Apply
· Deadline to submit CV: August 20, 2020
· Interested candidates should send their CV to:
[email protected]