COUNTRY MEAL OFFICER

Preliminary job information

Job Title

Country MEAL Officer

Country and Base of posting

Iraq – Based in Baghdad, with Mission travels to Southern Iraq and Kurdistan,

Reports to

Field Coordinator

Manages

None

General information

Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organisation. PUI has been working in Iraq since 1983. Its core objective is to provide a humanitarian response to the needs arising from population displacements in Iraq, through reinforcement and strengthening of the existing health system, provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and by enhancing access to shelter, Drinking Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WaSH). PUI is currently implementing Health, MHPSS, WaSH, and shelter projects in Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, through bases in Erbil and Baghdad.

Job description

Overall purpose

The Country Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Officer is responsible for implementation of MEAL activities within projects while under direct supervision of the Field Coordinator and under technical supervision of the Grants and MEAL Coordinator. The Country MEAL Officer will also contribute to the definition of the MEAL strategy for all projects within PUI Iraq mission (in Kurdistan and in Federal Iraq) and ensure its implementation by providing support to PUI’s operational and technical staff in order to improve their monitoring performance.  Under supervision of the Field Coordinator and the MEAL and Grants Coordinator, he/she will provide technical guidance following any MEAL activity by drafting reports including conclusion and recommendation toward improvement of program quality.  Communication with program team will also represent a key component of the Country MEAL Officer position.  

Responsibilities and scope of duties

Under supervision of the Field Coordinator, the Country MEAL Officer will:

·        Contribute to the design of MEAL plan and activities for each project, with support of the Field Coordinator and the Grants and MEAL Coordinator.

·        Plan and ensure conduction of any necessary Monitoring & Evaluation activity (monitoring survey, monitoring visits, evaluation study and surveys)

·        Ensure the quality and relevance of internal MEAL activities, by respecting the process and procedure for data collection, agreed upon with Grants and MEAL Coordinator

·        Contribute to analysis of result from MEAL activities and provision of adequate recommendations with support of Grants and MEAL Coordinator and the manager and in coordination with Program staff.

·        Upon approval from Manager, communicate recommendations with program staff and follow up on their implementation

·        Provide a methodological support to program teams on technical questions linked to MEAL such as: design of MEAL matrix, quantitative and qualitative data collection, measure of indicators

·        Ensuring respect of security protocol

·        Leading the FCRM / Accountability system operation

Specific goals and related activities

1.        Contribute to the design and implementation of MEAL Actitivties

·        Contribute to the design/development of any MEAL survey or activity, including questionnaire and methodology/protocol

·        Ensure that all documents to verify the impact and to measure the indicators set are produced on time and validated by Grants and MEAL Coordinator

·        Provide technical and managerial support on data collection to the staff and to enumerators when needed.

·        Supervise data collection or any related outcome

·        Ensure that all new staff joining the base have a briefing about the MEAL department

·        Suggest innovative approaches to the manager and to the Grants and MEAL coordinator in order to improve MEAL activities

Note: Possible MEAL activities may include (but not be limited to) monitoring visits at project sites, post-activity monitoring (e.g. post distribution monitoring), KAP survey, evaluation survey, verification of beneficiaries identity.

2.        Data Analysis and Reporting

·        Ensure quality daily reporting including feedback and observation from the field.

·        Develop appropriate database and necessary data analysis protocols related to MEAL surveys and activity.

·        Review and analyse the data collected during monitoring or evaluation activities, ensuring accuracy of the information.

·        Provide conclusion and recommendation to the Field Coordinator and the Grants and MEAL Coordinator based on the findings of any MEAL activity

·        Draft reports after conduction of any MEAL activity to present conclusion and recommendations

•  Coordinate with program staff in order to follow up on implementation of the recommendation provided by MEAL after conduction of any surveys or monitoring visits.

3.       QUALITY ASSURANCE AND PROJECT MONITORING

·        Ensure the follow up of the project indicators and work plan by supporting program staff in using the Project Monitoring Tool (PMT)  

·        Ensure that Sources of Verification (SOV) for indicators are accurate and appropriately archived by Program team on monthly basis

·        Provide technical support to program staff to design tools aiming at project monitoring and to be conducted by project staff (Scoring system, Excel Database etc.)

·        Conduct periodic monitoring visit at project sites

·        Inform PM in case of any discrepancy or issue monitored by MEAL department during conduction of project activities. 

·        Ensure the projects adhere to PUI quality standards and “Do No Harm” principle and report any harming behavior

4.         Coordination with other departments

·        Ensure MEAL department has enough resources, materials and equipment to conduct its daily activities

·        Ensure achievement of the MEAL department activities and objectives.

·        Communicate with security officer, Field Coordinator and other staff all necessary security information (security checklist) prior to any field visit.

·        Communicate to the logistic department on a weekly basis the needs related to transport, communication and other office needs.

·        Fill and communicate HR documents (attendance sheet, leave request, etc).

5.       CONTACT WITH BENEFICIARIES AND AFFECTED POPULATION

• Operate the feedback and complaint hotline and other accountability channels
• Ensure continuous contact with the population and local authorities to monitor consequences of external events on PUI’s activities as well as the impact of PUI activity on beneficiaries.
• Based on feedback from field activity, report to line manager any un-answered humanitarian needs, modification in the operational context or any other protection issue related to the targeted communities.
•  Report to line manager any potential negative impacts in terms of protection / Do No Harm / acceptance linked with PUI operations.

6.       Other duties

• Comply with PUI security protocol in the field
• Actively participate in relevant MEAL, strategic or programs workshops and meetings;
• Support to project activities or assessments when necessary and decided by Field Coordinator
• Support to MEAL activities in other basis when necessary and decided by Field Coordinator
• Perform any other related request from line manager.

·        Employee must possess a valid driving licence and be willing and able to drive PUI vehicles for work-related purposes, particularly if the PUI driver is not available.

Required Profile

Required knowledge and skills

Required

desirable

Education / Training

• Any bachelors degree (or above) in science, humanities, or technilogytechnology subjects.

• Public health
• Engineer

Professional experience

• Experience with a humanitarian NGO
• 2 years Experience in MEAL

• Experience in Information management
• Experience with Première Urgence Internationale
• Experience in public health or engineering

Knowledge and skills

• Excellent communication and analytical skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Strong IT skills, including excel
• Knowledge of project management

• Ability to work in unstable circumstances

Languages

• Arabic fluency
• English, strong command in writing and editing documents in English as well as verbal expression.

Kurdish fluency or intermediate skills

Software

• Strong computer skills essential, including ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel, Project & database Management software
• KOBO ToolBox or other Mobile Data Collection Tools

Required Personal Characteristics (fitting into team, suitability for the job and assignment/mission)

·        Serious with an excellent sense of analyse,

·        Accuracy, ability to work rigorously

·        Excellent communication techniques, good writing skills in English;

·        Very good organizational skills;

·        Ability to solve problems and proactively;

·        Regional and cultural knowledge and sensitivity;

·        Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with other project personnel.

·        General ability to resist stress and in unstable circumstances particularly

Mobility: willingness to frequently travel including field visits around Iraq.