NGO PRESENTATION:

Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.

Handicap International is a not-for-profit French organization with no religious or political affiliation.

Handicap International (HI) started its activities in Iraq in 1991.

The program currently implemented in Iraq includes three main components:

Long-term development projects: support to civil society, access to services, awareness campaigns, community-based rehabilitation.

Emergency response for Internally Displaced Persons and vulnerable host communities (rapid protection assessments, provision of physical rehabilitation and psychosocial support services).

Mine Action component: risk education, victim assistance, non-technical survey and clearance operations

The current operations are implemented in direct intervention and through local partners in the Kurdistan region and in the disputed territories of Iraq. The operations are implemented through local partners in Central and South Iraq. HI has currently a country coordination office in Erbil, field offices in Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad, and Kalar.

Directly linked to the Emergency Response Department of Handicap International France, the employee will be mandated for the following mission:

Position title: MEAL Officer

Base: Field Office

Line management: Reports to the Field Coordinator directly supervises the MEAL Assistant, Database Assistant and data collection volunteers

Global objective of the position:

The MEAL Officer will lead in ensuring program quality through the management and implementation of a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems at base level.  This position will take the lead in applying the Country MEAL strategy and adapt its components to respond to the needs of the base, taking into consideration the operational context, organization and donor requirements, available resources and required capacities at base level.

Roles and responsibilities:

MEAL Staff Management

• Supervise and manage MEAL staff in the base including MEAL Assistant, Database Assistant and volunteers for data collection;  ensure individual action plans are accomplished for regular MEAL staff; review achievement of objectives set through conduct of regular appraisals; carry out disciplinary measures when necessary
• Coordinate with HR for the recruitment and induction of MEAL staff and volunteers
• Ensure strict application and respect of Internal Regulation by MEAL staff and volunteers, including ethical and protection guidelines
• Perform conflict resolution procedures within the MEAL team
• Facilitate regular team meetings to review and update the team work plan

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability for Programs

• Coordinate with the operations and technical teams in the field to contribute to the design of new projects, including input to logical frameworks, integration of evidence and learning from previous projects, and input to MEAL plans and budgets
• Manage base-level MEAL work plans, ensuring timely and quality implementation of all MEAL deliverables
• Coordinate with Technical Advisers to develop tools for data gathering including those for project implementation, monitoring, evaluations and assessments
• Keep track of all projects and grants monitoring and evaluation schedules and implementation of monitoring and evaluation procedures at base level
• Provide technical support to external evaluation exercises; lead internal evaluation exercises at base level
• Provide oversight on the implementation of complaints and response mechanism in the field; ensure complaints and feedback received directly in the field are recorded by a designated MEAL staff, coordinated with the PSEA focal person and relevant staff for action depending on the nature of complaint; submit a monthly consolidation, analysis and reporting of complaints and feedback to the core MEAL unit in coordination
• Coordinate with project and technical teams in the field for the implementation of monitoring, evaluations, assessments and learning activities; provide technical input on the process and methodologies for implementation and how to use data 
• Contribute to project reviews by ensuring that evidence and learning from previous programs and data gathered from accountability mechanisms are consolidated and incorporated in the analysis 
• Coordinate with the core MEAL unit of HI for technical support for the implementation of project-level MEAL requirements

Information System Management

• Coordinate with the Information Manager and field database staff to perform regular data and database quality checks and review to ensure that systems are functioning and producing relevant and accurate data; ensure that information and data systems at base level  are user-friendly and relevant to the needs of the base
• Oversee the maintenance of a system to compile, analyze and share data with relevant teams at base and coordination level

• Perform analysis of findings of monitoring, evaluations, assessments and learning activities implemented at base level; package and disseminate findings to inform programming
• In close collaboration with the database team and Project Managers, contribute to donor and organizational reporting i.e. PM Box by performing data consolidation and quality checks

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Provide technical support to clarify indicator calculations and measurements e.g. donor indicators, internal indicators, through close collaboration with Technical Advisers
• In close collaboration with Technical Advisers, act as focal point for MEAL with regards to quantitative and qualitative data analysis of: survey and assessment data including data generated from monitoring and evaluation activities, needs assessments, pre and post-tests, beneficiary assessments, feedback and complaints data, and other data as may be required by the operations and technical teams
• Coordinate with Technical Advisers and Project managers to identify subjects/areas for analysis using data collected in the field
• Contribute to the production of information materials such as, HI factsheets and infographics by sharing analysis of project data and information, as may be required by the operations and technical teams
• Contribute to donor and organizational reporting i.e. PM Boxes by generating data from databases and other data repositories in the base, and performing data quality checks

Special Tasks and Liaison

• Represent the field office in meetings and forums related to MEAL upon request or when applicable
• Perform miscellaneous tasks upon the request of the line manager

Required skills and competencies:

• Excellent skills in spoken and written Arabic and English, Kurdish is an asset

• University degree with at least one (1) year of relevant experience
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in  implementing MEAL systems in development and humanitarian contexts, preferably familiar in at least one of HI’s sectors: Rehabilitation, MHPSS, Mine Action, Risk Education, and in cross-cutting sectors of Inclusion and Protection
• Fundamental understanding of the project cycle management and integration of MEAL
• Strong analytical skills and ability to handle complex issues
• Proven experience in coordinating with diverse teams
• Excellent computer skills with high proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs
• Proven experience in operating online data collection platforms i.e. ODK, Kobo Collect, SurveyCTO
• Strong analytical skills and ability to handle complex issues

Personal qualifications:

• High level of interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in a diverse, international environment
• Well-organized and able to plan work accordingly
• Demonstrated ability to establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization

Key working relationships:

Internal: Members of the core MEAL Unit at coordination level, Technical Advisers, Project Managers

External: Partners as required, Data Collection Volunteers

How to apply: