ECD Research Officer - Erbil

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC Iraq program was established in 2003 and is currently operating programs in 14 governorates in the Kurdistan Region and south central Iraq with an annual budget of over $30 million. Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC's assistance programs for Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, includes both camp-based and urban-based refugee and IDP assistance. The IRC Iraq supports IDPs, returnees, host communities and Syrian refugees across 14 governorates in Iraq with activities focused on education, protection and rule of law, women’s protection and empowerment, child protection and livelihoods activities. The IRC Iraq’s country office is based in Erbil, with field offices in Mosul, Kirkuk, Ramadi, Duhok and Baghdad and program offices in Sulaymaniyah, Salah al-Din and Karbala governorates. 

In Iraq, high-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs have the potential to provide the foundation for children future academic success, health, prosperity, and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With the extraordinary investment of $100 million, our partnership will transform the language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8 affected by the Syrian war. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the next five years, the plan combines the depth of in-person services, reaching 1.5 million children, with the breadth of mass media, reaching 9.4 million children. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Research Officer organizes and coordinates the research agenda, and leads the implementation of the research framework for ECD in Iraq, overseeing specific ECD initiatives while also tracking and assisting in Data analysis and feedback the findings to the Management and field staff.

Major Responsibilities:

• Design:

• Participate in creating the research design (identify the problem, review the literature, methodology).
• Participate in review and finalize Research frameworks and work plans.
• Participate in developing and reviewing research assessments, surveys and tools.
• Participate in developing the data collection system.
• Participate in defining the population and the targeted samples.
• Participate in creating and developing data base.

• implementation:

• Oversee the implementation of research activities and research processes.
• Participate in planning and implementing research activities with internal and external partners and contribute to evaluation of results.
• Participate in conducting field-level data collection (e.g. facilitate focus group discussion and conduct interviews)
• Ensure that high quality research data is recorded and stored effectively and is usefully retrievable and reportable on a regular and frequent basis.

• supervision:

• Participate in employee recruitment, orientation and training.
• Supervise entry level or professional positionsincluding interns or fellows.
• Provide guidance and technical support as needed to the enumerators and any other relevant ECD staff member on research and learning by making sure that deliverables are as per action plans and according to high quality standards.
• Act as primary contact for research team for any questions and concerns.

• Data analysis:

• oEnsure that all research components are coordinated and overviewed by the Research Manager for proper methodology and robust analysis.
• oParticipate in designing and implementing of complex statistical techniques and data processing systems to analyze research data.
• oCarrying out quantitative data analysis of existing data sets using Excel, SPSS and STATA.
• oConducting qualitative analysis of data conducted through interviews, focus groups, workshops or other methods

• Reporting:

• Participate in preparing quarterly, half year and annual progress reports for sharing with development partners and stakeholders.
• Producing high quality and varied research outputs for a range of audiences including analysis, report writing and presentations where necessary.
• Ensure that the results feed meaningfully into the ECD strategy and agenda.
• Work with the Research Manager, the ECD Manager, the ECD Officers, and Region Research Lead to provide timely updates and reports as needed.
• Assist in the drafting of the donors’ reports as needed.
• Write success stories regarding beneficiaries

• Performs any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Research Manager
Position directly supervises: Enumerators (temporary Staff)

Indirect Reporting: ECD Coordinator
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:The position closely works with the M&E Officer, M&E team, Regional Research Lead, and ECD Officers. The position also liaises with the ECD Manager and other regionally and HQ based IRC ECD staff.

External: The Research Officer engages with other ECD research staff members in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and IRC’s partners.

• Education: Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Social Sciences, or any relevant related field.

• LANGUAGE SKILLS: Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic

• Required Skills or Knowledge:
• Demonstrated experience in designing and developing quantitative and qualitative research tools (e.g. questionnaires, focus group discussions).
• Demonstrated experience in conducting field-level data collection (e.g. facilitate focus group discussion and conduct interviews)
• Experience of quantitative and statistical data analysis using statistical applications like SPSS and STATA.
• Experience of conducting qualitative analysis
• Experience of having conducted robust desktop research and knowledge of a range of methodologies
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of applied statistical methods.
• Good knowledge with data visualization and presentation skills.
• Demonstrable skills in writing quality reports (i.e M&E and research related reports)
• Evidence of ability to grasp complex concepts and debates quickly and to engage with these effectively through research
• Ability to communicate effectively – in writing and in person - about research findings to a range of audiences
• Evidence of having worked in group settings and / or as part of a cross-organizational or inter-organizational team
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft office programs.
  
  
• Work Experience: At least 3 years of relevant working experience in the area of research or M&E, preferably on ECD interventions.
• TRAVEL: Travel up to 40% to Ninewa and Anbar

• Preferred:

• Master degree in Applied Research, Computer Science, Statistics, or any relevant related field.
• Certification or specific training in Statistics, Information Management and/or Data Management.
• Experience of having designed and conducted participatory research
• Working experience with an NGO/INGO
• Published social research outputs
• understanding of ECD including a good knowledge of existing evidence and contemporary ECD concepts and issues
• Demonstrated experience in data collection Systems (Commcare, Kobo)
• Proficiency inSpoken Kurdish

Working Environment:

The position will be based in Erbil, Iraq, and covers all operating areas in Iraq.  The security situation in Erbil remains broadly permissive with continued attention paid to the potential for growing instability due to the continual influx of displacement and proximity to insecure areas in other governorates within Iraq.  

Standards of Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including maternity leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Attention Returning National Candidates:

IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, IRC has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.

Notice to all Job Seekers

IRC implements an equal employment opportunity policy
and our recruitment process is based on merit.

Applicants and/or successful interview
candidates (both internal and external) are not required to pay any fees at any
stage of the recruitment process.

If anyone asks you for any financial or
non-financial favors to help you secure a job at IRC, kindly report to Iraqhr@rescue.orgملاحظة لكل الباحثين عن وظيفةتعتمد لجنة الانقاذ الدولية سياسة فرص عملمتساويةو ان عملية التوظيف لدينا تعتمد على الجدارة.

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اذا قام اي شخص بطلب اي خدمة مالية او غير مالية لقاءمساعدتكم في تأمين فرصة عمل داخل المنظمة ،يرجى الابلاغ عن ذلك الىIraqhr@rescue.org

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC 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.