Monitoring Officer

Chemonics seeks a Monitoring Officer to support education programming in Northwest Syria. The Syria Education Programme II (SEP II) aims to provide children living in Northwest Syria with safe, inclusive, and quality education that meets their specialized learning, psychosocial, and protection needs. The Monitoring Officer, reporting to the MEAL Coordinator, will support the MERL team in implementing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning activities across field locations. This position will be based in Idleb and Aleppo, NWS, Syria. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Background:

SEP II, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and running until 2027, provides primary school children access to quality, inclusive and sustainable education in conflict-affected areas of Northwest Syria. The project provides comprehensive support to schools and teachers, including pedagogical supervision, learning assessments, psychosocial support, and safeguarding measures. The goal is to foster hope for future generations by investing in capacity-building and models that facilitate learning.

Position description:

The Monitoring Officer will be a core member of the MERL team and will support the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning activities across field locations under the Manahel programme. Reporting to the MEAL Coordinator, the Officer is responsible for ensuring the effective execution of routine data collection, field-level monitoring, and beneficiary feedback processes. The position contributes to evidence-based programme implementation by ensuring the reliability and timeliness of data collection and field verification activities.

The Monitoring Officer will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the program’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold Manahel's safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. They will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual grantees, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.

Responsibilities include:

Field Monitoring and Activity Implementation

• Conduct daily school visits to monitor the implementation of project activities, ensuring strict adherence to programme objectives, timelines, and quality standards.
• Monitor the distribution of programme materials and promptly report any irregularities or discrepancies observed during field visits.
• Oversee the salary distribution process to verify compliance with agreed procedures and timelines.
• Attend and actively participate in training sessions, learning circles, and capacity-building initiatives organized by partners, ensuring alignment with programme standards.
• Ensure all activities conducted by partners are monitored, reported and adhered to programme standards.

Data Collection and Documentation

• Provide technical support for data collection activities as required by the project, including tools such as EGRA/EGMA, SDQ, CFS, among others.
• Ensure comprehensive and accurate documentation and archival of all monitoring activities, including reports, photographs, distribution lists, and other relevant records, following programme protocols.

Evaluation and Learning

• Conduct post monitoring and other evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of implemented interventions.
• Identify, document, and communicate any challenges, risks, or deviations from workplans related to downstream partner activities.
• Prepare regular monitoring reports that highlight key findings, trends, and areas requiring attention or intervention.
• Support the MERL department by following up on progress against indicators, reviewing Means of Verification (MoVs), ensuring adherence to activity plans, and assisting in data analysis.
• Participate in learning sessions and data review meetings convened by the MEAL Coordinator or MERL Director, contributing field insights to inform program adaptations.

Data Quality Assurance and Verification

• Conduct spot checks and random verification of data collected during field visits to ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency with established monitoring protocols.
• Support the MEAL Coordinator in data cleaning and preliminary validation of monitoring data, ensuring timely identification and correction of inconsistencies.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Facilitate effective communication and engagement with community stakeholders, beneficiaries, and local partners to gather qualitative feedback and contextual information that complements quantitative data.
• Participate actively in on-the-job capacity building initiatives, including peer mentoring and refresher training sessions to strengthen data collection and monitoring skills within field teams.

Compliance and Ethical Standards

• Submit timely incident reports in accordance with risk management protocols to highlight any operational challenges or security concerns.
• Ensure all data collection and monitoring activities strictly comply with ethical standards, data protection policies, and organizational safeguarding guidelines.
• Report any violations of ethical standards, safeguarding concerns, or breaches in accordance with established protocols and organizational policies.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 3 years of experience in similar position. Knowledge of educational programs considered an asset.
• Strong communication skills.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation reporting is preferred.
• Ability to work in a professional and cordial manner with fellow staff members, visitors, partner institutions including international and local NGOs, governmental entities, support organizations, and the general public. This includes ability to represent the Manahel Programme to local stakeholders in an appropriate and neutral fashion.
• Ability to meet deadlines and to exercise good, professional judgment.
• Ability to verify project-related information on-the-ground.
• Ability to travel within the assigned province in Syria. The MO will be required to travel, sometimes extensively, within the assigned province in Syria.
• Fluency in Arabic.

Period of Performance:

The assignment is short-term with the possibility of extension.

Location of the assignment:

Idleb and Aleppo, NWS, Syria.

Supervision and reporting:

The Monitoring Officer will report to the programme’s MEAL Coordinator.