Country Programmes Officer - Iraq

About Jesuit Refugee Service

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), founded in 1980, is an international Catholic non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, that they may heal, learn, and determine their own future.

JRS programmes are currently found in 56 countries, serving refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in conflict zones and detention centres, on remote borders, and in busy cities.

Since October 2014, JRS has worked in Iraq to uphold and restore the dignity of forcibly displaced persons and returnees, show compassion to the most vulnerable among them, and be a sign of hope that a shared future is possible. Programmes in Iraq focus primarily on protection, education, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).

Learn more at https://jrs.net and www.facebook.com/jrsiraq

General Purpose of the Position

The Country Programmes Officer is responsible for country-level technical assistance and coordination of JRS Iraq programmes. This includes assisting in the identification new projects and partnerships, leading project proposal development and narrative report writing, contributing to the design and implementation of M&E plans, ensuring projects are delivered in line with JRS’ mission and donors’ requirements, and supporting the preparation of budgets and financial reports. This position shall report to the JRS Iraq Country Director.

Main Responsibilities of the Position

1. Coordinate and support JRS programmes at the country level

• Lead the development of proposals for JRS Iraq projects in coordination with key members of the project, country and regional JRS teams and in line with the needs of the affected populations, JRS’ mission and strategic objectives, and donor priorities.
• Ensure project planning and implementation is coherent and adheres to agreed proposals, budgets, and grant agreements.
• Support the project directors and coordinators in troubleshooting programmatic challenges that arise and identifying new opportunities to enhance the impact of JRS programmes.
• Keep abreast of changes in the local humanitarian context and the programmes of wider humanitarian partners.
• Ensure the timely submission of project narrative reports in accordance with JRS and donor requirements, in collaboration with Project Directors and the Regional Programmes Officer.
• Provide capacity-building support to project teams, as needed, on proposal and report writing skills.

2. Work with the Country Team 

• Support the preparation and review of budgets and financial reports in coordination with the country finance team
• Liaise with other members of the country team to ensure close support for project teams.
• Attend regular team meetings, planning meetings and workshops, as required.

3. M&E Tasks 

• Support the design and implementation of M&E plans in coordination with the Country and Regional M&E Officers and project teams.
• Follow up on project progress and changing needs on the ground in order to anticipate and present requests for project adaptations.
• Assist in the needs assessment, context analysis, and the evaluation of JRS projects in collaboration with the M&E officers, Regional and International Officers and Country Director.

4. Relations with Project Offices

• Ensure that project education coordinators keep complete and updated student records.
• Request all records and required reports as applicable (students’ attendance, test grades, weekly/monthly reports, parents’ meetings, teachers’ meetings, teachers’ absence).
• Establish and maintain an effective inventory system for all school supplies, materials and equipment.
• Provide a request form for the project and country logistics assistants in order to supply education programmes with needed materials with sufficient advance notice.
• Immediately notify the JRS child safeguarding focal point in case of child abuse, child neglect, and child severe medical or social conditions.

5. Availability

• Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Country Director that are within the ambit of the position.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• Compassion and strong commitment towards refugees and other displaced people
• Advanced university degree in a field such as economics, social sciences or another related discipline
• At least 2 years of practical work experience with donor-funded programmes, particularly with INGOs in a similar setting
• Integrity and honesty
• Strong analytical, strategic-thinking and planning skills
• Strong monitoring and evaluation skills/experience
• Demonstrated experience and commitment working with marginalised communities
• Ability and willingness to travel to JRS project sites and adapt to modest living and working conditions
• Familiarity with templates, procedures, etc. used by institutional donors such as PRM and ECHO
• Proficiency in Microsoft365TM applications, particularly Word, Excel, and Access
• Previous working experience with faith base organizations is an asset
• Excellent oral and written English
• Good oral and written Arabic is desirable