MEAL Officer

General Description:

The MEAL Officer will work under direct supervision of the MEAL Manager and will undertake duties and responsibilities related to monitoring, evaluation accountability and learning. The main role of MEAL Officer is to collect and analyse data to assure support to the NPA projects for their improvement by providing reliable field information on the quality of implementation for coordination and management decision making. The position holder will be responsible for timely and quality data collection from the field and partners and undertake field monitoring visits to partners’ activities and supervise and conduct household interviews, post-distribution monitoring, pre- and post- assessments, focus group discussions and any required visits as per the instructions of the MEAL Manager.

Specific description:

Monitoring:

• As a member of the MEAL Team, shall conduct data collection in the field and execute the methodologies provided by the MEAL Manager.
• Undertake regular visits to field locations to support monitoring and evaluation processes and contribute to the development and roll out of accountability processes.
• Participate in all other aspects of MEAL, for example surveys, baselines, evaluations, joint projects monitoring and reviews / lessons learning workshops/events.
• Produce monitoring checklists and conduct field process monitoring, quality assessment and data validation, and provide feedbacks and recommendations for timely improvement

Evaluation and Learning:

•    Supports the MEAL Manager in design and implementation of periodic evaluation activities including baseline surveys, research and evaluations in the locations covered by the programme.
•   Develop field staff capacities to employ a learning approach to their work. She/he will also be actively involved in promoting learning through documentation of lessons learned and developing approaches for community analysis and utilization of data for decision-making.

Accountability:

•  Together with the program team and with the support of the MEAL Manager, undertake accountability activities, including the development and use of information sharing materials and the establishment of complaint response mechanisms. This may include ensuring that complaints are logged and addressed in a professional and timely manner and that serious complaints relating to abuse, exploitation and corruption and referred appropriately.

Data Collection and Validation:

•  Ensure transparent, accurate and timely data collection for the purposes of baseline study, real-time evaluation and post-intervention/ post-distribution monitoring. It involves: field visits to project locations; conducting training for local enumerators; application of different data collection tools as well as collecting data from the field.
•   Ensure all data collection is done in line with good quality monitoring data, in a timely manner, and organize data received for reporting to MEAL Manager.
•    Ensures the quality of monitoring data reported by the NPA partners through capacity building, supportive supervision, routine checking and validation of data.

Reporting and Analysis:

•    Ensure timely data analysis and preparation of monitoring report according to MEAL procedures and standards.
•   Support programs with analysis and graphic representation of data for reporting purposes as needed.

Capacity Building:

•   Support the MEAL team in developing capacity of local communities, partners and staff on the programme MEAL framework, data management, and data analysis and results‐oriented programming, monitoring and evaluation methods and principles and reporting systems
•    Support the MEAL team in training concerned partners’ staff on the use of MEAL system; conduct rapid assessments and analysis of field-based programs to monitor program activity.
•    Support the MEAL team in analysing existing tools and procedures and developing new tools for needs assessment, baseline survey, monitoring and evaluation.

The position is based in Erbil with frequent travel in Iraq as required.

Must have:

•   A minimum of three years experience in Monitoring and Evaluation and Data Management.
•  Written and verbal proficiency in English, Arabic and Kurdish.
•   At least university degree in Social Science, Political Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, Management, or in a related area is preferred.
• Good analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to develop useful tools and formats in coordination with the Programme Managers.

Additional qualities:

•   Experience with working in partnerships.
•     Proactive with integrity, initiative and ability to think and work independently.
•     Ability to multitask, prioritize, handle pressure, improvise, and be a good team player.
•    Creative thinking, problem solving orientation, accountability for results.