MEAL Officer

Sustainable Peace Foundation (SPF) is an Iraqi feminist Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) striving to build and sustain positive peace through vertical and horizontal approaches and participatory methods; addressing root causes of tensions and conflicts challenging positive peace in Iraq. SPF strives to achieve this by working on the grassroots level to reinstate and strengthen the lost trust between Iraq’s diverse ethno-religious communities; increase community resilience, empower and building the capacities of the very effected communities so they can mitigate and transform conflicts through dialogue and non-violent means.

SPF strives to achieve these objectives by working with vulnerable groups such as, youth, women and girls, people with special needs and IDPs through developing their capacities to take leadership roles and to actively participate in the peace and reconciliation processes; economically empower communities by offering them vocational trainings and providing them with livelihood means to ensure stability and a dignified living standard.

SPF also strives to engage local authority and security actors with the local communities through advocacy, round table dialogue sessions and developing local peace mechanisms and structures capable to acts as soundboards conveying their communities’ needs and challenges.

SPF also provides consultations for local and international NGOs on peacebuilding and social cohesion programming, such as: context analysis, needs assessments, actor and service mapping etc.

SPF’s focuses on minority protection, but through its Do-no-Harm approach, which ensures that SPF programming and implementation creates cohesion instead of doing harm.

Job Description:
The Sustainable Peace Foundation (SPF) is implementing “Building Bridges: Strengthening Social Cohesion and Reintegration through Local Peace Committees in Anbar,” under the UNDP Iraq Social Cohesion Programme (ISCP) and CRRISA. The project focuses on empowering Local Peace Committees (LPCs) to address socio-economic challenges, foster reconciliation, and promote sustainable peace in conflict-affected communities. The MEAL Officer will play a critical role in ensuring the project’s effectiveness by monitoring progress, evaluating impact, and integrating lessons learned into ongoing and future programming.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Monitoring and Data Collection:
• Develop and implement a monitoring framework aligned with the project’s objectives, deliverables, and indicators.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities and assess progress against established targets.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data, including pre- and post-activity surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews.
• Evaluation and Learning:
• Evaluate project outcomes and impact by analyzing data and preparing comprehensive reports.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to inform future programming and enhance project implementation.
• Facilitate learning sessions for project staff and LPC members to share insights and integrate improvements.
• Accountability:
• Develop and manage feedback mechanisms to ensure beneficiary and stakeholder input informs project activities.
• Promote transparency and inclusivity by ensuring all project stakeholders have access to relevant project information.
• Reporting and Documentation:
• Prepare high-quality narrative and statistical reports for submission to the Project Manager and donors.
• Maintain a database of project indicators, activity results, and evaluation findings for reporting and planning purposes.
• Ensure all MEAL-related documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible for audits and evaluations.

 

Terms of Reference 

The MEAL Officer will ensure that the project adheres to its objectives and delivers measurable outcomes by implementing a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system. Below is a detailed breakdown of responsibilities:

 

1. Monitoring and Tracking Progress

• Develop monitoring tools and methodologies to track progress against key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Design data collection templates and train field staff on proper data collection techniques.
• Regularly update project performance dashboards to reflect progress toward objectives.

 

2. Evaluation and Impact Assessment

• Design and lead midline and endline evaluations to measure the project’s impact on social cohesion and reintegration.
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical tools and present findings in clear, actionable formats.
• Identify gaps, challenges, and areas for improvement, providing recommendations for adaptive management.

 

3. Accountability Systems

• Develop and manage mechanisms for stakeholders to provide feedback on project activities.
• Ensure beneficiary complaints and feedback are addressed promptly and transparently.
• Facilitate focus groups and community consultations to ensure alignment between project activities and community needs.

 

4. Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize learning sessions to share evaluation findings, success stories, and challenges with project staff and LPC members.
• Promote a culture of learning by integrating feedback and lessons learned into ongoing and future activities.
• Document and disseminate project achievements and innovative practices for wider application.

 

5. Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure MEAL practices comply with SPF and donor standards, including ethical considerations for data collection.
• Prepare reports that align with donor requirements, ensuring accuracy and clarity in presenting results.
• Provide real-time updates on project performance to support decision-making by project leadership.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage.

• Experience:
• Minimum 3 years of experience in MEAL roles, preferably in development or humanitarian projects.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing MEAL frameworks and tools.
• Experience working in post-conflict settings or with peacebuilding projects is an asset.
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, or Power BI) and data visualization tools.
• Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies.
• Knowledge of participatory evaluation techniques and community feedback mechanisms.
• Soft Skills:
• Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex data in accessible formats.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural teams and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Languages: Fluency in English and Arabic is required; knowledge of Kurdish is an asset.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding and social cohesion in one of Iraq’s most conflict-affected regions. Join SPF in empowering communities and fostering sustainable peace.

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter (applications without a cover letter will not be considered) outlining their relevant experience and motivation for the role to hr@sustainablepeacefoundation.org. Please include “MEAL Officer – Social Cohesion” in the subject line of your email.

For more information about the Sustainable Peace Foundation visit our website at www.sustainablepeacefoundation.org. 

SPF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ethnic origin, disability or age.