Business Development Officer
Organizational Context
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is a UN body established in 1949 to assist and protect approximately 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. UNRWA provides essential services including education, healthcare, and social services, operating as the largest UN mission in the Middle East. This role is field-based and requires extensive outreach and verification within refugee communities.
Job Purpose
The Business Development Officer plays a crucial role in supporting UNRWA's livelihood programs for Palestine refugees. The primary purpose of this role is to facilitate access to small business grants, toolkits, and training by assisting applicants through the entire process, from outreach and registration to application screening, business plan development, and field verification. The officer assesses business viability, conducts market analysis, and provides basic coaching to beneficiaries. This position directly contributes to helping refugees achieve their full potential in human development by fostering economic self-sufficiency and improving their livelihoods, pending a just solution to their plight. The role involves close coordination with various UNRWA departments and field teams to ensure effective program delivery and beneficiary support.
Responsibilities
The Business Development Officer is responsible for supporting the entire lifecycle of livelihood support for applicants. This includes outreach, registration, and intake for small business grants and toolkits. The role involves screening applications against eligibility criteria, assessing the feasibility and market demand of proposed business activities, and assisting applicants in developing simple business plans. A key duty is conducting thorough field verification, including site visits and documentation review, to support selection committees. Post-approval, the officer verifies the use of assistance, monitors business progress, and provides basic coaching on financial management and customer relations. Responsibilities also include coordinating referrals to other UNRWA services, tracking beneficiary progress, identifying and reporting risks, maintaining accurate beneficiary files, and ensuring that gender equality, disability inclusion, and protection principles are integrated into all activities. Regular progress updates and reporting to the supervisor are also required.
Work Experience
A minimum of four years of relevant experience is required in areas such as livelihoods, small business development, entrepreneurship support, microfinance, community-based programming, field verification, grants support, vocational training linkage, or early recovery programming. Experience working with vulnerable communities, refugees, or conflict-affected populations is considered an asset.
Skills
Strong field coordination and community engagement skills. Ability to assess small business feasibility and market relevance. Understanding of vulnerability, protection, gender, and inclusion. Strong documentation, verification, and reporting skills. Ability to manage confidential beneficiary information. Good communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Practical understanding of livelihoods, small grants, TVET, microfinance, or early recovery programming.