Program Officer – Part Time

General Description of the Role (Brief):

The Program Officer Part-Time (3 days/week), based in Erbil with frequent travel to Anbar Governorate, is responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of AFH projects in Iraq. The role ensures partner compliance with policies and processes, supports quality reporting, coordinates with local authorities, and contributes to assessments, proposal development, and overall program learning.

Key Responsibilities

Program Implementation & Oversight

• Ensure effective implementation of AFH-supported projects in KRI and Federal Iraq (mainly Anbar governorate) in line with agreed objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor activities, identify challenges, and provide solutions to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Support project kick-off and close-out meetings with implementing partners to ensure clarity on deliverables and compliance.

Partnership Management

• Follow up closely with local partners to ensure adherence to AFH policies, processes, and donor requirements.
• Provide guidance and capacity support to implementing partners to strengthen program delivery and compliance.
• Ensure beneficiary lists are obtained, verified, and approved in coordination with local authorities.

Reporting & Compliance

• Ensure high-quality, timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and final narrative reports from partners.
• Review partner reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with donor and AFH standards before submission.
• Maintain proper documentation and archive all program-related materials, reports, and correspondence.

Coordination & Representation

• Liaise and coordinate with local authorities, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to facilitate project activities.
• Represent AFH in coordination meetings, working groups, and relevant forums when delegated.
• Support communication and visibility efforts, ensuring AFH presence is well represented in project areas.

Program Development & Learning

• Contribute to program design, proposal writing, and business development efforts by providing field insights and lessons learned.
• Participate in needs assessments and data collection to inform future programming and strategic planning.
• Document and share success stories, lessons learned, and best practices to support organizational learning.

Additional Duties

• Ensure compliance with AFH’s safeguarding, accountability, and gender equity policies across all activities.
• Support financial monitoring of partner expenditures in coordination with the finance team.
• Carry out any other relevant tasks as assigned by the supervisor to support AFH’s mission in Iraq.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

Experience & Skills

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, development studies, social sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in program implementation, monitoring, and reporting within NGOs, UN agencies, or international organizations.
• Proven experience in partner management and capacity strengthening of local organizations.
• Strong skills in project reporting, documentation, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with local authorities and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of program cycle management (planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and close-out).
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• Strong communication skills in English Arabic and Kurdish (both written and spoken).
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Desirable:

• Previous experience working in Iraq (KRI and/or Anbar) with familiarity of the local context.
• Knowledge of climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, or related sectors.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments, surveys, and field data collection.
• Skills in business development and proposal writing.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, accountability, and gender-sensitive programming.

Personal Qualities:

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as in a team.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.
• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations (including Anbar Governorate).