Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) Specialist

What we are looking for

The NRC Lebanon Office requires an experienced, national, Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) Specialist with an excellent understanding of the three main pillars of CEA: participation in decision-making, information provision, and community feedback mechanisms (CFMs). Also, the CEA Specialist should have a strong grasp of SIP (including gender, age and diversity mainstreaming)and an understanding of wider protection issues.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Lebanon. We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorships for this position.

What you will do

The role will ensure that a CEA Strategy is developed and rolled out to ensure that CEA is mainstreamed, institutionalized and integrated within all programme, support and partner-implemented activities. The CEA Specialist will also oversee protection mainstreaming (SIP) in all elements of programming and ensure that transition Plan continues in 2026.

The CEA Specialist is a key part of the Country Office Programme Support Unit and works closely with the management, programme teams, area offices, and field teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership: Supporting the institutionalisation of SIP by contributing to the Strategy process through close working with NRC management and integration of SIP in the NRC Strategic planning process.
• Content localisation and development: in coordination with the Core Competencies Specialists and the Global CEA team, contextualise or further develop the sector-specific Minimum Standards, sector-specific guidance (guidance materials, checklists), training materials, and user-friendly online repositories of NRC technical documents, to support the implementation of CEA and SIP.
• Institutionalising and maintaining SIP standards: in coordination and collaboration with the Community Engagement and Inclusion team, ensure embedding SIP into PCM or support and monitor adherence to SIP minimum standards, including updating tailored tools, training materials, CO self-assessments and action plans, and integration into routines and structures.
• Internal and external communication: responsible for ensuring that NRC is able to articulate to internal and external audiences what it is trying to achieve on CEA, SIP and how the Minimum Standards relate to this.
• Project cycle management (PCM): support the integration of CEA and SIP in the different steps of the PCM (strategy process, project development, implementation, monitoring, reporting).
• Conceptualising and testing: responsible for ensuring that the Minimum Standards for CEA and SIP are adequate; that they protect and are useful for the people we work for and at the same achievable for all our teams to implement consistently, identify new trends, best practices and lessons learned.
• Documenting what works and sharing learning: in collaboration with the MEL team, continue to develop a sound MEL system that measures the success and progress of the roll-out of the Minimum Standards.
• Technical support: responsible for providing technical support and capacity building to NRC teams (AO and CO) and assistance for all CEA deliverables and products. as well as provide technical advice and support to Core Competency programmes on the analysis of protection, gender, diversity, and mainstreaming in the Core Competency programmes to strengthen their inclusion work (age, gender and disability).
• CEA and SIP analysis and integration: Provide continued analysis and advice regarding key lessons learned from ongoing CEA products and activities, as well as humanitarian protection mainstreaming trends and risks, monitoring how they interact with NRC’s current and planned activities in Lebanon for potential integration of protection mainstreaming activities in CCs.
• Line management: The CEA Specialist will directly line manage the Community Engagement and Accountability Unit, currently responsible for CFM, and the Gender Adviser. The position will work closely with the CEA focal points identified in each area office, as well as with the Core Competency Specialists and support functions, on the application of NRC CEA and SIP (protection mainstreaming) tools, ensuring integrated and robust CEA and protection mainstreaming outcomes.
• Representation: Represent NRC in relevant forums, such as the Accountability to Affected People (AAP) Working Group, PSEA Network and the Protection Mainstreaming Community of Practice, and relevant forums with other NGOs and UN agencies, which could include potential new accountability working groups.

What you will bring

• Bachelors degree in related field is required while a Master's degree in related field is desirable.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in the field of community engagement and accountability, protection mainstreaming and safe programming, ideally in a humanitarian or recovery context with knowledge of global protection (mainstreaming), gender, age, diversity standards and approaches
• Ability to think strategically and constructively and to apply these skills in developing frameworks and guidelines to support institutionalization of CEA deliverables and protection mainstreaming.
• Strong knowledge and experience of leading protection mainstreaming activities and community engagement approaches, experience in designing and implementing strategies, institutionalisation workplans and Action Plans as well as experience in developing and delivering high quality CEA protection mainstreaming-related training and tools to support practical implementation of minimum standards.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build trust and confidently navigate both internally and externally at different levels.
• Experience in working with field teams and partners and supporting development of their organisational and programmatic CEA and SIP capacities.
• Knowledge of Lebanon, the Syria conflict and the Middle East regional context, and experience with community engagement in the Middle East regional context is required.
• Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and spoken.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What we offer

• Duty station: Beirut Lebanon.
• Contract: 12 months Fixed term, renewable based on performance, funding, and need for the position.
• Travel: 30% to areas of operations when needed.
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s national salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC.

Important information about the application process

• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Lebanon. We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorships for this position.
• Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

NRC is one of only a few agencies operating across all of Syria. Against a backdrop of intense conflict, we work to provide emergency, transitional and longer-term assistance to people in need. NRC meets the needs of people affected by conflict and displacement in Syria. Amidst ongoing conflict, further socioeconomic and environmental deterioration, climate change and most recently the earthquake, we provide emergency, transitional, early recovery and resilience programmes.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC.

Learn more about NRC Lebanon here.

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

How to apply

Apply here