Project Assistant

Job Summary:

The Mother Care Phase II project addresses the heightened vulnerabilities of pregnant women and new mothers to extreme heat and heatwaves in Basra Governorate. Due to physiological changes during pregnancy, women face increased risks of heat-related complications across all stages of pregnancy, which may contribute to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. These risks are further exacerbated in displacement and marginalized settings, where exposure and adaptive capacity are limited.

In response to this context, the project adopts a prevention-oriented approach, focusing on raising awareness among target communities about heatwave-related risks affecting pregnant women and new mothers, and strengthening their capacity to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat through practical guidance, behavior change, and community-based preparedness measures.

The Project Assistant will support the Project Officer in the day-to-day implementation of the Mother Care Phase II project. The role involves providing administrative and logistical support, assisting in the organization of community outreach and awareness activities, and supporting data collection, documentation, and monitoring processes to track project progress and results.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Assist in the implementation of project activities, ensuring alignment with the overall project strategy and objectives.
• Monitor day-to-day activities of community outreach workers, review their weekly reports, and track referrals.
• Support the coordination and management of day-to-day project operations in Basra.
• Assist in organizing and conducting community engagement activities, including door-to-door visits, community events, and training sessions.
• Support data collection, documentation, and reporting for project monitoring, evaluation, and learning purposes.
• Facilitate communication and information flow between project staff, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
• Support logistical and administrative tasks, including the receipt, management, and distribution of project supplies.
• Assist in the development, adaptation, and dissemination of culturally appropriate awareness-raising materials.
• Support the implementation of project surveys, including coordination with stakeholders and other related tasks as needed.

Key contacts and collaborators:
Internal: Community Workers, Project officer, Senior Technical Advisor-Health, MEAL. Department, Finance and operation departments.

External: Local communities, healthcare providers, local NGOs.

Staff Risk Management Responsibilities

CARE believes that personal risk management is crucial for staff; however, the risk management cannot be achieved unless each staff member fulfills the following responsibilities. Failure to do so can not only endanger their own safety but also compromise the entire team and organization.

• Maintain Situational Awareness:
• Staff must maintain a high level of situational awareness at all times. This includes being vigilant about their surroundings, recognizing potential threats, and understanding the local context and culture.

• Stay Informed:
• Staff must stay informed about the security situation in their area of operation and avoid complacency. They should promptly read and understand information shared by the organization in relevant communication channels.
• Comply with Protocols:
• Staff must strictly adhere to the risk protocols and guidelines established by their organization. This includes following travel advisories, checking in regularly with designated security contacts, and complying with curfews or movement restrictions.
• Emergency Preparedness:
• Staff must be well-prepared for emergencies by knowing the location and contact details of local emergency services, the nearest hospital, and their organization’s security focal point. They should carry essential emergency supplies, such as first aid kits, communication devices, and personal identification, and participate in regular safety drills and training sessions.
• Maintain Reliable Communication:
• Staff must ensure they have reliable means of communication at all times and keep their phones charged and operational. They should keep the team informed of their whereabouts, especially when traveling or working in the field, and establish check-in routines to confirm their safety regularly.
• Respect Local Norms:
• Staff must understand and respect local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unnecessary risks and foster good relations with local communities.

• Additionally, all staff members must:

• Take Reasonable Care:
• Staff must take reasonable care for their personal health, safety, and security and ensure that their actions do not harm other staff members.
• Comply with Instructions and Policies:
• Staff must comply with the orders/instructions of the Risk focal points as required, and adhere to any workplace policy/procedure aimed at increasing the safety of all staff, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as laid out in the Risk Management Plan.
• Ensure Equipment Readiness:
• Staff must ensure that all radios, Track24 units, Satphones, helmets, body armour, trauma/first aid equipment, and any other personal protective equipment and items used in field operations and elsewhere are in a safe and serviceable condition and used in accordance with their operating instructions. All damages must be paid for personally.
• Supervise and Train:
• Supervisors of other staff have a Duty of Care to ensure that their staff are not put at risk and are adequately supervised while performing their work. Managers, supervisors, and staff must ensure that before they, or their staff, work in field-based locations, they receive adequate training in security, field health and safety, and risk management.
• Report Incidents Promptly:
• Staff must promptly notify the Risk focal point of any field/operational Risk, health, safety, and security incidents that occur.

Representation of CARE Mission and Values:

• Actively communicate and promote CARE’s mission, values, and goals to all stakeholders, partners, and the public.
• Utilize CARE’s logo and branding materials appropriately in all professional activities, ensuring donor acknowledgment and visibility.
• Wear the official CARE identification material such as vest, badge and/or pin at all business settings including meetings and events to clearly represent the organization.
• Employees are expected to engage in business related video/photo shoots, interviews, or audio recordings to promote CARE and its projects, enhancing organizational visibility.
• Employees are encouraged to re-share CARE’s social media posts and follow official CARE channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to help amplify the organization’s message.
• Ensure the organization’s logo and online presence are used professionally, with misuse potentially leading to disciplinary action.

Promoting Equality, Justice, and Climate Responsibility

Employees at CARE Iraq are expected to embody the organization's core values of equality, justice, and climate responsibility. This includes fostering equity between men and women, promoting climate justice, and embedding these principles into the organizational activities and work culture overall. A key focus internally and externally is on empowering women through leadership opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful participation in decision-making, while addressing workforce imbalances and amplifying women's voices to drive transformative change.

Equally, all employees of CARE Iraq are expected to prioritizes climate responsibility by encouraging sustainable practices, reducing ecological foot print, drive positive environmental impact, and supporting climate-affected communities. Integrating resilience and sustainability into all operations and actions will ensures a just and equitable future.

These principles are central to CARE Iraq’s vision for justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship.

Safeguarding and Ethics:

 At CARE, we recognize our responsibility to promote human dignity and social justice within our organization. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is our engagement with marginalized communities. We place human dignity at the center of our work. We are aware of the importance of organizational culture and accountability in enabling a safe and supportive environment for programme participants, the communities where we work, our staff, related personnel and our partners.

At CARE, we believe all people have a right to safety and to live their lives free from harm. The Safeguarding Policy is a response to CARE’s commitment and recognition of our responsibilities to protect and safeguard people we work with, and who work for CARE, from any form of abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse. To find further details about our Safeguarding Policy commitments, please click on this link CARE International Safeguarding Policy - October 2023_EN.pdf

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or a related field; health-related or climate/disaster management background is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience as a Project Assistant or in a similar role, preferably within public health, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or humanitarian/ development projects.
• Demonstrated experience supporting project implementation, particularly in complex or challenging environments.

Languages

• Strong communication skills with professional proficiency in Arabic; working knowledge of English is an asset.

Technical and Professional Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with strong skills in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in diverse and multidisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with the socio-political, environmental, and operational context of Iraq, particularly Basra Governorate.

If you're interested in this role, kindly apply via Project Assistant | Jobs at CARE International in Iraq by 25th Jan 2026 at the latest. Regrettably, applications received after this date will not be considered.

Notes:

A Strong Call for #Women Candidates: We highly encourage women candidates to apply for this role. At CARE Iraq, we are committed to equity and justice and strive to create a safe, inclusive space where everyone can thrive. Our goal is to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and contributes to meaningful change in the lives of women and girls.

-Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

-For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact CARE Iraq HR Manager through nmirza@care.de