Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant

Sector: Monitoring & Evaluation

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Part-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Deir ez-Zur, Syria

Background/IRC Summary:  

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The role of the Monitoring and Evaluation or Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant is to support the  Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the implementation of systems to promote evidence-based decision-making and to ensure harmonized Monitoring and Evaluation practices at the mission level. S/he will perform data collection for activity level monitoring of projects implemented by IRC northeast Syria cross border program or its partners, as well as involving in needs assessments and other quantitative and qualitative data collection exercises as required by the supervisor.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Monitoring and Evaluation officer to ensure project Monitoring and Evaluation Plans are rolled-out at the field level in an efficient and effective manner.
• Carry out field visits and collect and manage all requested project data as per the project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
• Ensure data entry as needed and carry out basic analytical tasks.
• Participate in lessons learned or action/data review meetings. 
• Contribute to project quality and accountability through field visits, providing support to the program team, and promoting appropriate tools and mechanisms to enhance the quality delivery of projects.
• Support project-specific assessments (baseline, end line) and a multi-sectorial needs assessment.
• Provide timely information to the country management team about risks related to the projects at the field level.
• Report performed activities and achievements to the line supervisor.
• Support the Monitoring and Evaluation officer to ensure reports of timely relevant data to partners and within country coordination mechanisms for each project under his/her responsibility.
• Perform any other duties related as may be assigned by the supervisor. 
• Support collection of primary qualitative and quantitative data from project implementation sites through, but not limited to: - Client satisfaction surveys, spot checks, PDMs, market price monitoring, and observations.
• Be present at and monitor assigned IRC-supported distributions and facilities inside Syria by completing the provided smartphone forms and documents. This may be at warehouse locations, distribution sites, or partner facilities like hospitals.
• Assess the needs and challenges of Syrian communities and households in assigned locations using provided smartphone assessment forms. This may include conducting home visits and leading meetings with heads of communities, relief committees, and other community representatives.

Other

• Attend training and capacity-building sessions held by IRC, either in person, or via Teams, Skype, phone, or another communication medium.
• Other duties as assigned by the IRC supervisor to enable and contribute to IRC’s programming
• Ability to communicate with Local authorities (Service Committee and HAO).
• Collect solicited and unsolicited beneficiary feedback, as well as record feedback from non-beneficiaries, as required by the supervisor.

• Education: university degree.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Monitoring & Evaluation, research, data collection, or client service.
• Previous experience in data collection is an asset
• Experience in using smartphones for data collection: CommCare and field data collection software are preferred.
• Ability to communicate sensitively and without judgment; good diplomatic and persuasion skills
• Experience working directly with diverse communities, including displaced people, persons with disability, women and girls affected by conflict.
• Clear understanding of gender inequality and violence against women and girls.
• Demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for working for women's and girls’ rights

Personal skills:

• Positive and professional attitude, flexible, and able to work under pressure
• Willingness to work as part of a diverse team
• Ability to discuss sensitive issues and maintain strict confidentiality

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior-level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop, and a sense of humor are a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.
• Language/Travel:
• Ability to work with multi-culture communities, Basic skills in speaking and writing in English is required.
• Ability to travel in NES

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Position directly supervises: Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Key Internal Contacts: IRC program field staff

Key External Contacts:  IRC services Beneficiaries, Local authorities (Service Committee and HAO), TPM team.

Applicants will be received till 16 April 2023

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen 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, the Middle East Region 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. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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 parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.