Position Name: IRQ-E26-07 MEAL Assistant – Iraq
Required staff: one Person
Duration: 6 months with possibility of extension
Starting from: As Soon As Possible
Duty Station: Erbil Governorate
Closing date of the vacancy: June 13, 2026 COB
Type of contract : Employment Contract- Full Time
Background
Un Ponte Per (UPP) is an Italian non-governmental organization established in 1991. The organization has been working in Iraq since the early 1990s to promote peacebuilding, human rights, social justice, and civic participation.
UPP works in partnership with Iraqi civil society organizations, community actors, and national institutions to support access to justice, protection of civic space, gender equality, and inclusive governance.
As part of its programmatic engagement in Iraq, UPP is implementing the project “Building Peace and Stability in Iraq”, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aimed at strengthening access to justice, civil society participation, and the protection of human rights, while supporting dialogue between civil society and institutional stakeholders.
The Project
Building Peace and Stability in Iraq is a programme funded by FCDO (The UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office) implemented in Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Nineveh and Anbar. BPSI aims to support the reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees from Northeast Syria in areas of return. The programme is currently implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and six local NGOs (Peace and Freedom Organization, Tahreer Association for Development, House of Co-existence, Justice Center, Legal Clinic Network, and Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law) managed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The programme component delivered by IRC has been running since 2023. Due to IRC’s planned departure from Iraq in 2026, Un Ponte Per-ETS (UPP) is taking over the leadership of this component during 2026-2027 Fiscal Year in partnership with Agency for Peacebuilding who will be acting as technical and advisory support.
Project Purpose: To ensure safe return and sustainable reintegration of conflict-affected Iraqis, fostering stability and resilience in communities
Outcome I: Community groups engage to identify specific drivers of conflict, promote social cohesion, and reduce discrimination.
Outcome II: People impacted by displacement can access justice and exercise their rights to achieve durable solutions
Outcome III: Government actors, civil society, and community leaders are equipped with knowledge and skills to promote achievement of durable solutions and social cohesion
Job Description
To support the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system of the BPSI Phase IV Programme by assisting in data collection, analysis, reporting, and learning processes. The MEAL Assistant ensures that project activities are tracked against indicators, evidence is generated for adaptive management, accountability mechanisms are accessible to communities, and enumerators are effectively supervised to maintain data quality and integrity.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT :
Monitoring & Data Collection
· Assist in the design and implementation of monitoring tools aligned with project logframe and FCDO requirements.
· Supervise enumerators during field data collection to ensure adherence to methodologies, ethical standards, and data quality protocols.
· Conduct spot checks and provide on‑the‑job coaching to enumerators to strengthen accuracy and consistency.
· Collect quantitative and qualitative data from field sites, including surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews.
· Support partners in applying standardized data collection methodologies.
Evaluation & Learning
· Contribute to baseline, midline, and endline assessments by preparing field data and supporting analysis.
· Document lessons learned and good practices from consortium partners and community initiatives.
· Assist in organising reflection sessions and learning workshops with partners and stakeholders.
Accountability
· Support the roll‑out of Feedback, Response, and Complaint Mechanisms (FRCM) at community level.
· Ensure complaints are logged, tracked, and referred according to safeguarding and accountability SOPs.
· Promote awareness of accountability channels among beneficiaries, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Reporting
· Assist the Senior MEAL Officer in preparing monthly monitoring reports and quarterly consolidated reports for FCDO.
· Maintain accurate databases and indicator tracking sheets.
· Provide timely inputs for donor reporting and partner updates.
Capacity Building
· Support training sessions for local partners and enumerators on MEAL tools, data quality assurance, and adaptive management.
· Provide on‑the‑job coaching to partner staff during field missions.
Reporting & Coordination
· Directly reports to the Senior MEAL Officer.
· Works closely with consortium partners, programme staff, enumerators, and community focal points.
· Coordinates with the PSEAH focal point to ensure accountability mechanisms are integrated with safeguarding systems.
Qualifications & Experience:
· Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics, development studies, or related field.
· Minimum 2 years’ experience in MEAL or project monitoring roles in humanitarian/development contexts.
· Experience supervising enumerators or field data collection teams.
· Strong skills in data collection, entry, and basic analysis (Excel, Kobo, ODK, or similar).
· Familiarity with qualitative methods (FGDs, KIIs) and participatory approaches.
· Fluency in Arabic and/or Kurdish; working knowledge of English required.
· Accuracy and attention to detail in data management.
· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse communities.
· Commitment to confidentiality, accountability, and safeguarding principles.
· Ability to travel to field sites and work under pressure in complex environments.
Recruitment at UPP
- UPP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. UPP considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
- UPP : upholds all the minimum standards in terms of Ethical Conduct and strives to increase its standards over the minimum. Zero tolerance is reserved to Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and to Child Abuse, Violence, Harm, Injury and Negligence, as well as to Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism. By applying, the candidate assures that s/he has never breached any standards of SEA, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism and that s/he won’t in the future. Candidates are alerted that the required background checks might compromise their privacy. Shortlisted candidates shall promptly provide an up-to-date criminal background check.
- All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Un Ponte Per also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment.
More information related to how to apply:
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
- Applications will be screened on a rolling basis. UPP reserves the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required qualifications before the mentioned deadline.
- Please name the files attached to your application as follows: Name_Surname_CV, Name_Surname_CL
- CV and Cover letter that are not in PDF version will not be considered.