Job Title: MEAL Project Assistant Reports to: MEAL Officer Duration: 17 months *This post is contingent upon donor funding.
About Caritas:
Caritas Iraq was founded in 1992 to provide assistance and food aid to the poor and marginalized. Since then, Caritas Iraq continues to respond to the ever-increasing set of challenges facing the nation. Key areas of focus include emergency relief and development programs, peace building initiatives, capacity building, health and social service support. Caritas Iraq will be implementing and delivering activities in the 8 selected subdistricts of Thi-Qar related to cross-cutting social cohesion activities and youth entrepreneurship.
About STRIVE-C:
The Strengthening Thi-Qar Resilience with Vulnerable Communities (STRIVE-C) project will work with vulnerable communities affected by environmental shocks and water shortages in Thi-Qar Governorate who have begun to recover following decades of crisis, and who are now looking towards longer-term development and community resilience. The project, led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and implemented by Caritas Iraq and other partners, aims to support communities’ transition from recovery to development by helping them adapt to the impacts of climate change, while also supporting individuals to improve their livelihoods. Social cohesion approaches will be embedded across project activities to promote inclusive decision-making and collective action among diverse residents in Thi-Qar.
Job Summary:
As a member of the Caritas Iraq MEAL team, and under the supervision of the MEAL Officer and work closely work with CRS MEAL SPO, the MEAL Assistant will support the effective implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities for the STRIVE-C project. The MEAL Assistant will contribute to data collection, entry, verification, and documentation of project activities, helping ensure high-quality and timely data is available to inform project decisions.
The MEAL Assistant will also support the administration of accountability mechanisms, including community feedback and complaint channels, and assist in compiling field-level insights to strengthen program quality. The role requires a service-oriented, detail-focused approach and close coordination with program and MEAL staff to ensure that the project reaches its intended outcomes and reflects the voices of the communities served.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- MEAL Support and Data Collection
- Support the implementation of MEAL activities for the STRIVE-C project in line with Caritas Iraq and CRS MEAL standards.
- Assist in the collection of routine monitoring data from project activities, including attendance sheets, pre/post-tests, and beneficiary feedback.
- Conduct field visits to support data collection using structured tools, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Support the administration of surveys, Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM), and other MEAL tools as needed, in coordination with the Caritas MEAL Officer.
- Data Entry and Management
- Enter monitoring data into project databases and Excel trackers in a timely and accurate manner.
- Ensure hard copies and digital records are filed, labeled, and stored securely and systematically.
- Assist with routine data cleaning and verification tasks to ensure high-quality data is available for reporting.
- Accountability and Community Feedback
- Support the rollout of Feedback, Complaint, and Response Mechanisms (FCRM) at activity sites.
- Help raise awareness among community members on how to provide feedback safely and respectfully.
- Assist in documenting and forwarding community feedback to the MEAL Officer for review and action.
- Reporting and Documentation
- Support the compilation of basic monitoring summaries and inputs for donor reports as requested.
- Assist in the preparation of visual data (e.g., basic charts or tables in Excel) for internal presentations and learning sessions.
- Help document success stories, lessons learned, or key observations from the field.
- Learning and Reflection
- Participate in regular reflection meetings with the project and MEAL team to review progress and share learnings.
- Contribute field observations to improve activity implementation and inform adaptations.
- Identify personal learning needs and seek opportunities to strengthen MEAL knowledge and field facilitation skills.
- Coordination and Communication
- Coordinate closely with field officers, the Caritas MEAL Officer, and CRS MEAL focal points to ensure smooth implementation of MEAL activities.
- Communicate effectively and respectfully with participants and community members, demonstrating cultural and conflict sensitivity.
- Support efforts to include marginalized groups in monitoring and feedback processes.
Relevant MEAL Competencies (Foundational Level)
- Understands and applies basic conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles during data collection.
- Participates in light conflict and context monitoring and ensures respectful engagement with all groups.
- Demonstrates inclusive communication, ensuring marginalized voices are safely heard during monitoring.
- Supports accountability by facilitating community feedback mechanisms.
- Applies basic SC&J tools and frameworks when supporting monitoring activities.
Basic Qualifications
- University degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Information Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 1–2 years of experience supporting Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities with a local or international NGO.
- Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, entry, cleaning, and basic analysis.
- Familiarity with monitoring tools and data collection platforms such as CommCare, Kobo Toolbox, ODK, or similar.
- Proficient in using MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); Excel proficiency for data management and basic analysis is essential.
- Strong attention to detail, organizational, and time management skills.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively with diverse teams and communities.
- Prior experience in field data collection and engaging with community members is an advantage.
- Additional training or coursework in MEAL, data management, or ICT4D is a plus.
Required Languages – Spoken and written Arabic fluency and spoken/written English professional proficiency are required. Knowledge of Kurdish is a plus.
Travel – The position is based in Thiqar with up to 60% travel to project sites or partner offices in Baghdad and Erbil. Minimal regional and international travel for training or project activities, as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Good observation and active listening skills
- Ability to retain information and follow instructions
- Detail-oriented
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups
- Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
- Ability to work under pressure with short deadlines
- Ability to remain calm and professional in tense situations
- Ability to manage multiple and overlapping tasks
More Information
- Address Thi-Qar
- How to apply Apply exclusively via the email below. Send your CV, including the job title in the subject line (after reading the entire job description). Any email that does not include the job title will be ignored. [email protected] التقديم من خلال الايميل ادناه حصراً, ارسل سيرتك الذاتية مع ضرورة كتابة عنوان الوظيفة في حقل الموضوع (بعد قراءة الوصف الوظيفي بالكامل) و أي ايميل لا يحتوي على عنوان الوظيفة, سيهُمل. [email protected]
