MCC Service Opportunity ______

ALWAYS enter the English job version first, and set the above field to "No". After that, if you enter the same job in another language, set the above field to "Yes". ______

Assignment Title: Program Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Term: 3 years Assistant FTE: 1

Location: Suleimaniya,

Start Date: Oct/19/2015 ______All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church membership; and biblical nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Synopsis:

The service worker will be seconded to MCC’s partner organization, REACH, to assist with project documentation in order to meet the requirements of donor reporting. REACH (Rehabilitation, Education And Community Health) is a medium-sized Iraqi Kurdish NGO engaged in multiple development, livelihood, and relief projects in a dynamic setting. This position is for a single service worker.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience with MCC or similar INGO. • Significant previous experience with project Planning, Monitoring, Evaluating, and Reporting (PMER). • Self-starting capacity to initiate tasks with little training or guidance. • Kurdish and/or Arabic language preferred but not required.

Assignment Narrative:

The service worker will be primarily seconded to an MCC partner organization, REACH, to help with program planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. This involves extensive writing and editing of English material, close communication and collaboration with REACH staff, attention to detail regarding donor requirements and deadlines, and occasional field visits. Work assignment supervision will be under REACH management, with regular hours of work (roughly .75 FTE) at the REACH office in Suleimaniya. The remaining .25 FTE of the service workers time will be providing project management for a limited number of MCC projects carried out by MCC partners other than REACH. This component of the job will include communication with the partner regarding reporting expectations and deadlines, occasional field visits and project monitoring, and collaborative reporting revision. These MCC projects will be submitted to the Representatives in Amman for review and approval, with bilateral support and communication with the Iraq program coordinator as needed.

The MCC Representatives in Amman, Jordan, will provide supervision and support of the service worker’s MCC placement. While this position is in Suleimaniya, Iraq, there is close coordination with the MCC service workers located in Ankawa, Erbil, about 3 hours away by car. Suleimaniya has an international airport served from Amman, Istanbul and some European cities and is known as the “cultural capital of .” The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) has remained stable despite incursions into other parts of Iraq by the Islamic State group. Living and working in Suleimaniya does not pose serious security threats. Financial arrangements will be according to MCC policy for service workers.

Duties:

REACH (.75 FTE) A. Assist with REACH project documentation to meet the requirements of donor reports for a growing, medium sized NGO engaged in multiple development, livelihood, and relief projects in a dynamic setting. B. Specific tasks may include proposal writing and revision, case study research for donors, project report review, English language support, and general staff support. C. Key to this position will be the ability to strategize on project monitoring and evaluation system development in a team atmosphere. D. This position will also require training and workshop facilitation among staff to strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems. MCC (.25 FTE) E. Manage a limited number of MCC projects to meet MCC and back-donor requirements. F. Specific tasks may include remote monitoring and communication, careful attention to detail regarding finances and project activities, collaboration with partner staff, and a varying degree of report drafting, editing, and review depending on partner capacity.

Location Description:

The service worker will be accommodated in rented housing in Suleimaniya city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Suleimaniya is known as the cultural capital of Kurdistan for its concentration of artists, poets, and musicians. In recent years, museums and cultural spaces have developed greatly providing avenues for local artists and musicians to express the Kurdish experience in a unique and modern way.

Transportation : REACH is within walking distance of the old bazaar where everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handicrafts to home goods are available for sale. The neighborhood around REACH is a quiet, older neighborhood and most restaurants and malls are a quick taxi ride away. Taxis are simple to use and reliable, though it is uncommon and looked down upon in some cases for women to take taxis alone in the evening. Buses are easily accessible from REACH, easy to learn, very cheap, and considered the safest way for women to travel alone throughout Suleimaniya. Travel from Suleimaniya to the MCC office in Ankawa, Erbil would be by shared taxi or with a partner organization’s vehicle and driver.

Environment : The local landscape around Suleimaniya is a main attraction as mountains encircle the city and picnicking in the mountains is a national pastime for Kurdish people. Picnics usually involve lots of food, dancing, and enjoying nature. In spring and early summer, hiking and walking outside is very common activity. In June, the weather begins to get hotter and people stay inside more, but the city remains active throughout the year. Winters can be cold and one challenge is that electricity is not always reliable in the city (though REACH has a reliable generator).

Attire : standards in Suleimaniya are modest, but not as conservative as in other areas of the Middle East. Clothing choices are diverse, especially for women. Some women wear hijab, but there is no compulsion to do so. Typically, women wear shirts that have at least short sleeves and pants or skirts to the ankles (or skirts with tights). Women in Suleimaniya value fashion and often follow trends and enjoy using makeup. Men do not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts, even during the hot summers. On picnics and for special occasions, both men and women wear julee Kurdi , or “Kurdish clothing.” Clothing is very easily available both new and used and there is a used clothing store very near REACH.

Healthcare : Health facilities in Kurdistan are generally good and emergency facilities are available. The majority of doctors and many medical staff speak English very well. REACH is near a high concentration of pharmacies where over-the-counter medicines (including things like antibiotics and birth control) are available at prices much cheaper than in the West.

Food : Food and water in Suleimaniya are generally clean; however, regular precautions taken during international travel are recommended. Clean water is easily available for purchase and water from the tap can be boiled and/or filtered (the mineral content is high, so it is not advisable to drink too much unfiltered tap water). Kurdish food features meat, rice, and bread, but there are vegetarian options like falafel, lentil soup, and fasouliya (a dish with beans and tomato sauce).

International community : The international community in Suleimaniya is smaller than that in the capital city of Erbil, and is comprised primarily of NGO workers, English teachers, and some private-sector employees.

Church : There are three main churches in Suleimaniya, with a monastery within walking distance of the REACH office. The monastery celebrates both English/international mass as well as Arabic mass. The monastery is also currently home to over 40 displaced families.

Language : Kurdish is the official and most common language, though because of the recent crises in and Iraq, Arabic speakers and speakers of other Kurdish dialects are increasingly common. Official Sorani instruction is available via the American University and some other local institutions, but Kurdish people are also very willing and able to help foreigners learn the Kurdish language. Private tutoring is also available at reasonable prices.

Challenges:

• Iraq is a country where insecurity exists for Iraqis and expatriates alike, although the security situation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) is stable. Despite the calm, living with some degree of risk is part of the assignment. While Suleimaniya has remained secure, terrorist acts do periodically occur in Erbil, the capital city of the KR-I, and in neighboring Kirkuk city. • The KR-I is intimately affected by the incoming surge of Syrian refugees and displaced Iraqis from other parts of the country, which has increased social tensions. • The greatest risks or inconveniences faced by volunteers in this assignment may be more related to extraordinary heat. From May to September, daily highs range from 35 °C to 48 °C (95 °F to 118 °F) daily. It is very dry heat, and attention to hydration and protection from the sun is a must. • Local travel conditions can also be challenging; roads are often in need of repair, and local driving habits may be unreliable. • Women have some degree of restricted freedom of movement, especially when traveling alone at night. • Nearly every person in the KR-I has a personal history of war, displacement, and trauma. It is important to prepare coping mechanisms and have a support system for secondary trauma that may occur through hearing about the devastating and traumatic past and current experiences of those around you.