MEL Officer

Position Title: MEL Officer

Reports To MEL Team Lead/OVOR Project Manager

Deadline: December 5, 2024

About Heartland Alliance International (HAI)

Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to advance healing and justice worldwide in solidarity with survivors of human rights abuses through innovative services, research, and policy advocacy. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, through USG funding, HAI provides holistic services implements a range of programs that directly or indirectly (via capacity strengthening of local services providers) provide psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, livelihoods strengthening, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

About the project

Our Voices, Our Rights is an 18-month, US$1.5M initiative funded by the US Government that is designed to support Iraqi Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian minority communities, that have endured atrocities and discrimination, to advocate for inclusion in political and civic institutions and processes, access transitional justice and accountability mechanisms, and obtain critical rehabilitation and reintegration services. Through locally led programming and capacity strengthening of civil society organizations, the project will strengthen efforts of these minority communities to access their rights under Iraqi law.

Programming will cover Ninewa governorate where the Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian communities primarily reside and where survivors faced ISIL atrocities, as well as Kirkuk, Baghdad, Erbil, and Diyala governorates.

Job Description including specific duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the MEL Team Lead and the Project Manager, the MEL Officer is a key role on the project management team. The MEL Officer works closely with the Project Manager, the Technical Team and other project team members to routinely and regularly collect, analyze, interpret and report indicator data according to the Project’s approved Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan. The MEL Officer is also responsible for overseeing and supporting all evaluation exercises as well as managing the learning agenda. All of these processes support the Project’s accountability, decision making and learning requirements.

Specific roles and responsibilities of the MEL Officer are:

Monitoring/ MEL Plan Management

·       In consultation with the designer(s) (HQ MEL/BD) of the Project’s MEL Plan, review and analyze the approved MEL Plan including (i) the results framework, (ii) the selected indicators, their definitions, calculations, analysis approaches; (iii) data collection sources and methods; (iv) collection frequency including immediate data collection requirements (i.e. baseline data); and (v) collection/reporting roles and responsibilities.

·       Develop and manage a MEL Plan work schedule covering start-up activities, training, regular data collection, analysis and reporting activities.

·       With support and guidance from the MEL Team Lead and the PIMS Manager; research, design, develop, train and rollout appropriate data collection tools to support data requirements for each indicator in the MEL Plan including tools that may sit in HAI’s ActivityInfo data management system.

·       Train and provide ongoing technical support (in collaboration with the MEL Team Lead) to project staff, partners and stakeholders on the Project’s MEL Plan; ensuring that relevant personnel fully understand the MEL Plan and are capable of fulfilling their respective roles/responsibilities (data collection, interpretation) in its implementation. This includes awareness and understanding of HAI’s ethical guidelines and required practices

·       Aggregate, clean, analyze and visualize project indicator data and make available for reporting, uploading to HAI’s PRIME database and/or uploading to any other reporting database designated by the donor.

Evaluation

·       In coordination with the DMEL Director and the MEL Team Lead, contribute to evaluation exercises including baseline, midline, endline data collection as well as any independent evaluations. Organize and implement other monitoring and evaluative exercises including monitoring site visits and post-distribution monitoring.

Learning

·       In close collaboration with the Project Manager, manage the Project’s learning agenda. This may include organizing and facilitating lessons-learned events, field visits, special research and/or interaction with project participants in projects coverage sites.

Participant Accountability

·       Contribute to and support the operations of the Project’s participant accountability mechanism.

·       Data Management/Data Quality

·       Manage and ensure compliance with all current Iraqi and HAI data management policies, regulations, requirements, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and best practices.  This includes compliance with data security legal and regulatory requirements, privacy laws, data collection/sharing ethics and protocols, confidentiality requirements and data storage/archiving/destruction regulations and procedures.

·       In coordination with HQ MEL’s Monitoring Manager, conduct monthly data verification exercises for pre-selected indicators. In some cases, assign and train an alternate to conduct verification calls.

·       Ensure all data (electronic and physical data) is safely and securely stored as per the HAI’s Data Management SOP with particular attention given to sensitive and confidential data.

·       Alert MEL Team Lead, Project Manager, Country Director and/or DMEL Director on implementation delays, operational issues, risks as well as any incidents involving loss or theft of data, or other breaches of confidentiality.

Other Duties

·       Participate and contribute to HAI’s MEL Community of Practice.

·       Other duties that may, from time to time, be assigned by the MEL Team Lead or DMEL Director.

Required Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or competency required.

·       Degree in social sciences, math, statistics or data sciences, economics or development studies. Advanced degree preferred.

·       Minimum of four (4) years of experience applying mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods to monitoring and evaluation processes at all stages of the project life cycle. This includes designing/developing data collection tools, collecting data, analyzing and visualizing data, supporting reporting and conducting data quality audits

·       Minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience operating/supporting MEL in the human rights, humanitarian assistance and/or development sectors.

·       Knowledge and skills in operating MEL and data systems in low resource settings.

·       Demonstrated ability to train staff and implementing partners on M&E concepts, tools, and processes; some teaching or training experience is highly desired.

·       Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with a range of personnel; including program staff, partners, and stakeholders.

·       Ability to work equally well independently or as part of a team, with strong organizational and time management skills.

·       Expert proficiency in data management and analysis software including Excel, Power BI and ActivityInfo.

·       Willing and able to travel frequently to different project locations.

Computer Skills:

·       Demonstrated technical proficiency and experience using the full suite of MS Office applications with comprehensive understanding of all features (including visualization) of MS Excel. Experience using bespoke database platforms (e.g. ActivityInfo) is an asset.

Required Language Skills:

·       Working level fluency in Arabic and/or Kurdish languages, including speaking, writing, and listening/reading skills

·       Working-level fluency in English, including speaking, writing, and listening/reading skills

Other Skills and Qualifications (required):

·       Strong commitment to human rights with cultural sensitivity, respect, and confidentiality.

·       Strong communication skills-including explaining M&E concepts into simpler language.

·       Excellent relationship management skills (both professional and person relationships)

·       Candidates should be flexible, have a sense of humor and patience.

·       Proven ability to multi-task in a calm and professional way.

·       Interest in, understanding of, and appreciation for religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq and the IKR.

Competencies required for the job

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Competencies:

·       Forward and Strategic Thinking- Able to understand the strategic intent and purpose of job duties and responsibilities, and able to offer insights to the management team regarding means to over-come barriers or improve processes.

·       Self-Motivation - Has an awareness of their intrinsic motivations. Understands many jobs have duties or responsibilities that the employee does not feel motivated to complete but is able to identify strategies -or seeks guidance from management- to complete all work duties with the same level of quality and efficiency.

·       Professionalism - Thinks carefully about the likely effects on others of one's words, actions, presentation of self, and mode of behavior. Monitors quality of work and selects the words or actions most likely to have the desired effect on the individual or group in question.

·       Reliability - Shows commitment/ dedication and accountability in one's work, and follows through on all projects, goals, aspects of one's work. Fulfills all commitments made to peers, co-workers, and supervisor. Works to achieve agreement (by offering alternatives, etc.) on time frames or objectives that can be realistically met.

·       Teamwork and collaboration- Willingly seeks and shares knowledge that will enable a colleague to improve in their job, or the team to advance towards a project goal. Considers the organization when making decisions. Separates one's own interests from HA's interests to make the best possible judgments for HA.

·       Adaptability - Changes behavioral style or method of approach when necessary to achieve a goal; adjusts style as appropriate to the needs of the situation. Responds to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives.

·       Integrity and Authenticity- Respects confidentiality. Contributes equally and fairly at work, measured by following through with promised and assigned work and honoring commitments, being honest about capabilities, limitations, and mistakes.

·       Cultural Humility and Interpersonal Awareness- Aware of and able to read cues in different situations then adapt accordingly. Makes others feel comfortable by responding in ways that convey interest in what they have to say.

·       Resilience and Stress Tolerance- Ability to manage difficult situations, seeks support or accepts offers of support, when necessary, ability to overcome challenges