Food Security & Resilience Assistant

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. 

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country  level.

FAO has been working in Lebanon since 1977. FAO Lebanon project portfolio has been growing in response to the different crises. Projects mainly target farmers, fishers, and their organisations with the aim of building their resilience and capacity to access potential markets, while undertaking sustainable management of resources.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Lebanon is supporting national efforts to enhance sustainable agricultural development, improve food security, and strengthen the resilience of rural livelihoods. The Food Security & Resilience Assistant will provide operational, field and administrative support to the implementation of food security and resilience projects under the direction of the Food Security and Resilience Technical Coordinator.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and direct supervision of Food Security and Resilience Technical Coordinator and in close coordination with other Units and colleagues in the office.

Technical Focus

The Food Security & Resilience Assistant will provide operational, data management and field support to the Food Security and Resilience team, working under the direct supervision of the Food Security and Resilience Technical Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Resilience & Livelihoods Specialist and the Food Security & Livelihoods Specialist. The role is the data and documentation backbone of the team: ensuring that beneficiary information is accurate and up to date, that field data collected through monitoring visits and surveys is properly captured and managed, and that the documentation trail for all programme activities including grants, distributions, training sessions, assessments, is complete, organised and audit-ready.

The Assistant’s work is primarily desk-based, centred on managing and operating the team’s data management and beneficiary information systems, and on producing the data summaries, tracking sheets and documentation products that the team rely on for implementation oversight and reporting. Field visits are a regular part of the role, undertaken specifically for data collection, beneficiary verification, distribution monitoring and training attendance tracking. Throughout, the Assistant works within established protocols, templates and systems designed by the Technical Coordinator and Specialists, contributing operational precision and reliability rather than independent technical judgement.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Manage and maintain the team’s beneficiary information systems and databases, ensuring that beneficiary records are accurate, complete, up to date and properly secured in line with FAO data protection standards.
•    Use and adapt existing survey tools and data collection forms, including forms for beneficiary registration, needs assessments, post-distribution monitoring, training attendance and outcome surveys, under the guidance of the relevant Specialist or the Technical Coordinator.
•    Conduct regular data quality checks, clean and validate incoming data, flag inconsistencies or gaps to the Technical Coordinator, and ensure that databases are consistently maintained throughout the project cycle.
•    Produce periodic data summaries, beneficiary tracking reports and indicator update sheets from the beneficiary management system, providing the Technical Coordinator and Specialists with timely and accurate information for implementation monitoring and reporting purposes.
•    Undertake field visits as directed by the Technical Coordinator or the relevant Specialist to collect monitoring data, verify beneficiary information, document field evidence and flagging discrepancies.
•    Conduct and enter data from monitoring tools, farmer surveys and field observation checklists, post-distribution monitoring (PDM) visits and household-level food security surveys using structured digital data collection tools, submitting clean and complete datasets to the relevant Specialist upon return from the field.
•    Assist in the planning and logistical organization of field activities, assessments, training events and community meetings, including travel arrangements, participant communication and venue preparation.
•    Support the documentation and record keeping (including financial) for direct grants and productive asset transfer programmes, including beneficiary lists, grant agreements, receipt confirmations, distribution records and compliance documentation, ensuring the audit trail is complete and accessible.
•    Assist in the organization and monitoring of food assistance distributions, cash transfer operations and voucher redemption activities, ensuring that distribution records are complete and accurately maintained.
•    Liaise with implementing partners, local NGOs and community representatives to obtain programme data, verify field information and facilitate the exchange of documentation required for project implementation.
•    Maintain organised and accessible filing systems, both digital and physical, for all programme documentation including beneficiary files, distribution records, training materials, meeting minutes and correspondence, in line with FAO’s document management standards.
•    Support the preparation of internal coordination meetings for the Food Security and Resilience team, including agenda preparation, note taking and follow-up on action points as directed by the Technical Coordinator.
•    Support procurement and logistics processes related to the delivery of project inputs, training materials and field activity supplies, in coordination with the operations and administrative units and in line with FAO procurement procedures.
•    Perform any other related duties as required by the Technical Coordinator.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, or a related field.
•    4 years of relevant experience in project implementation support, data management or field operations in the development or humanitarian sector; 
•    Working knowledge of English (level C) and Arabic (Level C)
•    National of Lebanon

FAO Core Competencies

•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
•    Demonstrated organization skills and ability to meet tight deadlines;         
•    Ability to prioritize tasks;           
•    Communication skills;           
•    Ability to work in a harmonious and effective way in a multicultural team;           
•    Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and colleagues.  

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Demonstrated proficiency in digital data collection and management platforms, including the ability to use and adapt existing survey forms, manage data pipelines, conduct data quality checks and produce structured summary outputs; experience in form design is an asset but not a requirement.
•    Strong data management and record-keeping skills with attention to accuracy, consistency and completeness; ability to maintain beneficiary databases and programme filing systems to the standards required by FAO and donor audit processes.
•    Experience supporting field data collection activities including household surveys, post-distribution monitoring, beneficiary registration and verification, and training attendance tracking, using structured digital tools.
•    Good understanding of food security and livelihoods programming approaches in humanitarian or development contexts, including familiarity with CVA modalities, beneficiary management requirements and grant documentation standards.
•    Ability to produce clear and accurate data summaries, tracking tables, indicator update sheets and report inputs from programme databases, in support of technical and donor reporting processes.
•    Strong organizational and logistical skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining accuracy in documentation.
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel for data management and tracking, Word for documentation and Outlook for coordination; familiarity with PowerPoint and data visualisation tools is an asset.
•    Good interpersonal and communication skills with ability to liaise effectively with field teams, implementing partners and community representatives; knowledge of Lebanon’s rural communities and local governance structures is desirable.

Selection criteria

•    Proven experience in: (i) managing beneficiary data and operating digital data collection platforms; (ii) supporting field data collection activities such as household surveys, beneficiary verification or post-distribution monitoring; (iii) maintaining programme documentation and filing systems to audit-ready standards; (iv) providing operational and logistical support to project implementation teams. 
•    Experience supporting food security, livelihoods or cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programmes is highly desirable. 
•    Prior experience with FAO, UN agencies or NGOs is an asset. 
•    Knowledge of Lebanon’s rural areas, agricultural communities and local governance structures is desirable.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO [link removed] and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ [link removed].These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings [link removed].
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp [link removed]

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT