Secours Islamique France (SIF) is a non-governmental organization based in France that promotes international solidarity. Founded in 1991, SIF intends to bring relief and protect the lives of those threatened by natural disasters, armed conflicts, or economic collapse. SIF intervenes in more than 30 countries around the world through emergency relief, recovery, and development aid. It carries out operations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Its goal is to help people suffering worldwide, regardless of origin, religion, or gender.
SIF is seeking a proactive and results-oriented Business Development Officer with experience in business development, market access, and value chain support to strengthen the business practices of MSMEs, farmers, and other value chain actors, improve commercialization opportunities, and promote sustainable income generation.
The position is based in Beirut, with Field visits to several areas all over Lebanon.
ROLE SUMMARY:
The Business Development Officer is responsible for planning and monitoring all business development and market access activities under the Livelihoods program. Working closely with MSMEs, farmers, producers, processors, and other value chain actors, the Officer strengthens business practices, improves technical skills, enhances commercialization opportunities, and supports sustainable income generation. Working within the Program Team and in coordination with technical experts and private sector partners, the Officer leads outreach to MSMEs and farmers, follows up with beneficiaries and trainers, and ensures smooth coordination with private sector partners and technical experts. The role plays a key part in ensuring that support reaches beneficiaries in a timely, accountable, and high-quality manner in line with SIF standards and donor requirements.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Line Management
- Report technically to the Livelihood Project Manager
2. Training, Coaching & Technical Support
- Supervise business development, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and agriculture-related training components.
- Plan and deliver technical trainings on marketing, business planning, entrepreneurship, financial resources, risk management, and improved agriculture practices.
- Conduct outreach to MSMEs, farmers, processors, and cooperatives to identify needs, challenges, and opportunities.
- Provide continuous one-to-one coaching and follow-up for MSMEs and farmers, ensuring adoption of improved techniques and technologies.
- Support training providers, monitor training quality, and ensure content remains relevant and tailored.
- Facilitate market access opportunities including buyer linkages, supplier agreements, sales channels, and networking events.
- Provide business intelligence, analytics, dashboards, and reporting to support decision-making.
3. Outreach, Assessment & Beneficiary Support
- Lead outreach to MSMEs, farmers, processors, food producers, and agricultural stakeholders in Saida, Jezzine, and other target areas.
- Conduct capacity assessments, business diagnostics, and value chain assessments.
- Identify high-potential business ideas.
- Support the evaluation committee in selecting beneficiaries and reviewing business plans; provide technical support on business development, food processing, product preservation, packaging, grading, and commercialization.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Monitor all business, vocational, and agriculture trainings and track beneficiary progress.
- Conduct regular field visits, follow-ups, and coaching sessions.
- Maintain accurate documentation of meetings, trainings, and follow-ups.
- Prepare monthly progress reports, weekly updates, and inputs for donor reports (including gender, age, trends, and analysis); contribute to baseline assessments, needs assessments, and market studies.
5. Coordination & Representation
- Coordinate closely with technical experts, government institutions, and private sector partners; build and maintain relationships with market actors, suppliers, traders, buyers, and cooperatives.
- Identify and mobilize master trainers in technical and agricultural disciplines.
- Represent SIF in coordination meetings, working groups, municipal meetings, and with local authorities as needed, ensuring alignment between project objectives and stakeholder expectations.
6. Support to Reporting & Compliance
- Maintain strict confidentiality and professionalism with all beneficiaries.
- Promote and respect SIF policies, safeguarding rules, and Code of Conduct.
- Report any incident that may cause harm to beneficiaries or affect program integrity.
- Respect beneficiaries’ right to refuse assistance and ensure dignity is upheld at all times
- Support beneficiaries in developing business plans, commercialization strategies, and marketing approaches; contribute to budgeting and marketing strategy development
7. Other
- Provide technical advice on agriculture production, food preservation, processing techniques, and improved practices; identify potential partnerships including food markets, packing houses, grading warehouses, and processing hubs.
- Suggest solutions for food products (preservation, packaging, branding, cooking techniques).
- Support the Food Security (FS) & Agricultural Livelihood team with ideas, coordination, and technical contributions.
8. Continued Support & Business Recovery
- Follow up regularly with farmers to monitor progress, address challenges, and reinforce adoption of improved agricultural practices.
- Follow up with entrepreneurs and business owners to track progress against business plans and provide continued coaching.
- Support MSMEs in strengthening business operations, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
- Support beneficiaries in developing and implementing business recovery plans following shocks or disruptions.
Note: This list of duties is not exhaustive. Additional tasks and responsibilities may be assigned by the line manager based on the needs of the mission or the organization.
KNOWLEDGE/STUDY/DIPLOMA:
- Advanced degree in Business Management, Economics, Agriculture, Environmental Science, International Development, or related fields.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in food security, livelihoods, agricultural support, or business development
- Experience working with MSMEs, farmers, cooperatives, and private sector actors.
- Strong understanding of agricultural value chains, food processing, and market systems.
- Excellent English and Arabic (spoken and written); French is an asset.
HARD SKILLS/SOFT SKILLS
- Experience working with MSMEs, farmers, cooperatives, and private sector actors.
- Strong understanding of agricultural value chains, food processing, and market systems.
- Ability to understand the cultural, social, and economic context of areas of intervention.
- Knowledge of gender, protection, and women’s economic empowerment issues.
- Ability to conduct business diagnostics and value chain assessments.
- Strong coaching and mentoring skills for MSMEs and farmers.
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially Word, Excel, and data analysis tools.
Essential Hard Skills
- Experience working with MSMEs, farmers, cooperatives, and private sector actors.
- Strong understanding of agricultural value chains, food processing, and market systems.
- Ability to understand the cultural, social, and economic context of areas of intervention.
- Knowledge of gender, protection, and women’s economic empowerment issues.
- Ability to conduct business diagnostics and value chain assessments.
- Strong coaching and mentoring skills for MSMEs and farmers.
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially Word, Excel, and data analysis tools.
Desirable Hard Skills
- Experience in food processing, product preservation, packaging, and grading.
- Familiarity with market fairs, B2B meetings, and buyer/supplier linkages.
- Experience with business intelligence tools, dashboards, and reporting.
Soft Skills
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and coaching skills.
- High sense of responsibility, integrity, and confidentiality.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Commitment to ethical, transparent, and beneficiary-centered work.
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse communities.
- Teamwork and collaborative attitude.
- Alignment with SIF’s humanitarian principles, mission, and values.
