Job description

SRD Center is seeking a qualified National Education and Evaluation Expert to join a proposed evaluation team for a mid-term evaluation of a large education system-strengthening programme in Iraq. The assignment focuses on equitable quality education, improved teaching and learning, school governance, education planning, teacher professional development, EMIS, inclusion, and institutional capacity development across Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The expert will support the evaluation design, contextual analysis, stakeholder engagement, data collection, analysis, and reporting. The role requires strong knowledge of the Iraqi education system, including national and subnational education structures, school governance, teacher development, education planning, quality learning, and community participation.

Tasks

The National Education and Evaluation Expert will be expected to:

1. Contribute to the evaluation design, inception phase, stakeholder mapping, evaluation matrix, and sampling approach.
2. Support the review of education policies, strategies, programme documents, monitoring data, EMIS-related documents, and relevant education sector evidence.
3. Provide technical inputs on Iraq’s education system, school governance, education planning, teacher professional development, learning outcomes, and institutional capacity development.
4. Support the design and adaptation of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools.
5. Lead or support key informant interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and field observations with education stakeholders.
6. Facilitate access to and communication with education authorities, GDoEs, schools, teacher training institutions, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders.
7. Support analysis of qualitative and quantitative findings, with attention to equity, gender, disability inclusion, child rights, and vulnerable groups.
8. Contribute to the preparation of presentations, preliminary findings, recommendations, and sections of the evaluation report.
9. Support validation workshops, sensemaking sessions, and recommendation co-creation processes.
10. Ensure that all fieldwork and stakeholder engagement follow ethical standards, confidentiality, informed consent, and do-no-harm principles.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

1. Master’s degree in education, social sciences, public management, development studies, or a related field. Specialization in education is highly desirable.
2. At least 6 years of relevant experience in education systems, education research, evaluation, policy analysis, or programme assessment.
3. Strong knowledge of the education sector in Iraq, including Federal Iraq and/or the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
4. Proven expertise in one or more of the following areas: school governance, education planning, EMIS, teacher professional development, learning assessment, inclusive education, education finance, or community participation in education.
5. Experience in research and/or evaluation in education, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
6. Strong experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and tools.
7. Experience facilitating interviews, focus group discussions, stakeholder consultations, and field-level data collection.
8. Understanding of child rights, gender equality, equity, disability inclusion, and ethical standards in evidence generation.
9. Previous experience with UN agencies, international organizations, or donor-funded education programmes is an asset.
10. Fluency in Arabic and proficiency in English are required. Kurdish language skills are an asset.
11. Readiness and ability to travel within Iraq, subject to access and security conditions.
12. Strong communication, facilitation, analytical, and report-writing skills.

How to apply

Interested candidates should fill in this short application form:
https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/rxHlmdjI

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps and information.